For the past few weeks we've been putting TV manufacturers' feet to the fire. We're holding them accountable by grading them in key categories like design, performance, features and pricing — and now we're asking our readers to get involved.

We recently asked readers which brand they trusted most and one company was the clear winner. Now we're coming to you all directly with a short survey that will help us figure out what you love and hate about the six biggest TV makers: Hisense, LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL and Vizio.

Fill it out at your leisure and let me know in the comments what your biggest gripes are.

Here's how I'd answer

Testing TVs for a living has left me with an embarrassing amount of screens in my home. In my home office I've got a 75-inch TCL QM9K. Downstairs in my living room is a Samsung S95D OLED. In my music listening room I've got the Hisense U8N.

In the above survey, I'd mark all three down.

How long have I owned those TVs? Not all that long.

The first TV I ever owned was a massive CRT model that I used to play N64 and PS1 games on growing up. My parents bought that TV for me and my brother in 1996 and I was still rocking it to play Halo 2 a decade later.

These days, however, I'm trading out TVs every two to three years. That's probably a bit excessive, honestly, but as someone who covers this stuff, I want to make sure that I have access to all the latest and greatest technology to provide the best analysis to you guys.

Would I buy these TVs again? I absolutely would. They're all great value options. Not everyone probably feels the same as I feel, though. For some of you I'm sure the answer is going to be a resounding no. If that's you, drop a comment below letting me know why that is.

If the answer is yes, also drop a comment below letting me know why you like your TV so much. By doing so, you could be directly helping someone find their new favorite TV.

Stay tuned for the results of these surveys and check out our guide to the best TV brands in 2026 if you haven't done so already. You'll be seeing the results used in more stories in the coming weeks as we continue to break down what's working — and what's not working — in the world of TVs.

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RGB backlight technology is clearly here to stay, and it’s laying the groundwork to eventually replace traditional Mini-LED as the de facto standard among the best TVs. While more budget-friendly models like the Hisense UR9 are making the tech accessible, sets like the Sony Bravia 9 II represent the uncompromising high end, commanding a steep $3,599 starting price.

The seeds for this flagship were planted three years ago when I visited Sony’s Tokyo HQ to see early prototypes of its backlight drivers. Sony’s mission then was granular control in service of "artistic intent.” The original Sony Bravia 9 proved how potent that philosophy was, but the Bravia 9 II elevates it further by introducing a refined True RGB system.

The result is a display that feels worth every penny. If OLEDs hadn't made massive brightness leaps of their own recently, I’d call this a full-blown OLED killer. A handful of other TVs might push higher raw peak nits on paper, but the Bravia 9 II pairs OLED-rivaling blacks, rich color performance, and an elite anti-reflective coating with a level of visual finesse that makes it the undisputed champion of RGB TVs.

Sony Bravia 9 II True RGB TV: Price and sizes

The Sony Bravia 9 II is positioned at the apex of Sony's current TV offerings, and its pricing reflects its ultra-flagship status:

• 65-inch Sony Bravia 9 II (K65XR90M2): $3,599.99
• 75-inch Sony Bravia 9 II (K75XR90M2): $4,599.99
• 85-inch Sony Bravia 9 II (K85XR90M2): $6,499.99
• 115-inch Sony Bravia 9 II (K115XR90M2): $30,999 (not yet available)

All sizes feature identical internal performance capabilities, though it's worth noting the gargantuan 115-inch model omits the Mirage stand found on its smaller siblings. And frankly, nobody needs to spend $30,000+ on an LED TV, no matter how good it is.

While launch prices are steep, we have already seen modest discounts hit retailers, and you can expect more enticing sales around Black Friday.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Design, ports and connectivity

In terms of design, the highlight here is the new "Mirage" stand setup. When viewed from the right angle, the TV appears to float effortlessly above your console thanks to a magnetic lenticular cover plate that conceals cables fed cleanly down the center base. Much like the metallic floating bezel on Samsung's latest flagship S95H OLED, Sony's design choices make the TV look distinctive and elevated. On a macro-level, I’m excited to see TV manufacturers introducing memorable flourishes right now.

But if you’re after the slimmest TV, the Bravia 9 II isn’t it. Because it is a backlit Mini-LED system, the chassis is naturally thicker and heavier than paper-thin OLED alternatives (1.75 inches and 58.6 pounds, respectively, for the 65-inch model we reviewed).

The Bravia 9 II also sports an upgraded anti-reflective screen coating. In testing, it proved exceptionally capable at suppressing harsh indoor light sources and window reflections, easily rivaling Samsung's matte anti-glare solutions. Paired with the screen's immense light output (which I’ll detail further below,) this set thrives in sun-drenched rooms.

Where Sony stumbles is in its port selection: For a flagship in 2026, offering only two HDMI 2.1 ports (out of four total) remains a frustrating point of contention for multi-console gamers and AV enthusiasts who need multiple high-bandwidth connections. On the plus side, it does include an ATSC 3.0 tuner for broadcast 4K signals — something rival sets from Samsung and LG skimped out on in 2026.

How we test TVs

We follow a standard testing protocol for every TV we review at Tom’s Guide. Our benchmarks include a series of technical and subject tests designed to rate the set’s performance.

For our technical tests, we use a Jeti spectraval 1501-HiRes spectroradiometer, a Klein K10-A colorimeter, a Murideo 8K-SIX-G Metal pattern generator, and Portrait Displays’s Calman calibration software to take measurements. We also use a Leo Bodnar 4K Input Lag Tester for determining whether it’s one of the best gaming TVs. For a more detailed look at what we do and how we do it, check out our “How we test TVs” page.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Performance

The Bravia 9 II’s picture performance impressed me most with its shadow precision and color vibrancy. Watching the rainy dock chase scene in “The Batman,” the colored lights piercing through the dark night sky looked completely controlled, intentional and hyper-vivid. Dark cityscape details remained intact without blowing out shadow details, while blooming around bright light sources was virtually non-existent.

Color handling is equally outstanding. In “Dune: Part Two,” the vast desert sands and open skies of Arrakis displayed buttery-smooth gradations with zero visible color banding.

I did notice some minor limitations in off-angle viewing, however. While Sony's wide-angle tech marks a huge improvement over the original Bravia 9, sitting far off-axis still introduces slight contrast drop-offs that you simply won't find on an OLED panel.

Gaming on the Bravia 9 II feels fluid, and has natural benefits for PS5 owners. Swinging through New York in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 on PS5, motion remained crisp even during fast camera shifts. An input lag of 9.8 milliseconds is a monumental improvement over the Bravia 9’s 17 milliseconds, cracking the sub-10 millisecond threshold that’s pretty much the fastest we’ve seen on any Sony TV in the lab.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Test results

Speaking of our lab testing, the Sony Bravia 9 II delivered premium benchmark results, reflecting a massive generational step forward for Sony's backlighting.

Out of the box, our production unit of the Sony Bravia 9 II reached 3,903 nits of peak HDR brightness in a 10% window (worth noting: a pre-production sample we tested previously managed 3,990 nits).

This represents a gigantic leap over the original Bravia 9's 2,713 nits. By shifting away from standard white LEDs to a True RGB backlight system, Sony proved it can drive immense luminance without blowing out color accuracy or clipping highlights. It comfortably outshines even the brightest flagship OLED we’ve tested (the Samsung S95H at 2,721 nits) while essentially matching its impressive 89.60% Rec. 2020 color gamut coverage.

Hisense’s UR9 remains the raw brightness champion at 4,370 nits and holds a slight lead in Rec. 2020 gamut coverage (93.14% vs 89.23%), but almost no content is mastered to saturate BT.2020 fully.

When comparing the Bravia 9 II’s premium over Sony's step-down Bravia 7 II, the lab numbers tell an interesting story. The Bravia 7 II holds its own with a respectable 2,077 nits and nearly identical color coverage, but the flagship Bravia 9 II nearly doubles its peak HDR output and delivers superior out-of-the-box color accuracy. That would make a significant difference in a sun-drenched room.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Audio

Sony re-architected the internal chassis of the Bravia 9 II to create more internal air volume, pairing its primary subwoofers with side-saddled tweeters and a newly added upward-firing beam tweeter. The result is an expansive soundstage with undeniable punch.

The Bravia 9 II also gets Sony’s Voice Zoom feature, which offers six levels of dialogue adjustment in either direction to adjust vocal clarity. I personally like using it for watching live sports when I want the commentary to pop clearly over roaring stadium crowds.

While I think it sounds great for a standalone TV, I also think a display of this caliber deserves a dedicated surround setup. If you stick within Sony's ecosystem, Acoustic Center Sync allows the TV’s built-in drivers to operate as the center channel when paired with a compatible Sony soundbar or home theater system.

Alongside this TV, Sony introduced the Bravia Theater Trio, a condensed central soundbar with wireless left and right channels. I haven’t tested it myself, but I’m intrigued by how it offers flexible placement options.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Software and interface

The Bravia 9 II runs Google TV, which is one of my personal favorite smart TV platforms for daily use. You can take it or leave it, but Gemini AI integration now allows you to ask questions about movies, request quick briefs on sports scores, or catch up on daily news digests.

Google TV Freeplay comes built-in, offering over 280 ad-supported channels for instant streaming. Users also receive free Sony Pictures Core credits (10 movie downloads plus 2 years of unlimited access to 100 curated Sony Pictures titles). Otherwise, app navigation for your subscribed services is generally fast and responsive, and it plays especially nice with YouTube TV for those like me who use it as their cable alternative.

When idle, the TV’s screensavers setting pulls from Google Photos, curated art galleries, or AI-generated art. Combined with the anti-reflective screen coating, the Bravia 9 II could satisfy that itch for an art TV aesthetic.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Remote

Sony’s remote control is one of the best in the business. It features a comfortable, textured back and motion-sensitive backlighting that automatically illuminates the keys when you pick it up in a dark room and gently fades away once set back down. It’s fully rechargeable via USB-C.

Quick-launch shortcut keys are provided for Google TV Freeplay ("Free TV"), Sony Pictures Core, Crunchyroll, Netflix, Disney+, YouTube and Prime Video. There is also a customizable shortcut button that can be programmed to launch your most-used app or control Google Home smart devices.

I appreciate how it includes a dedicated Quick Settings toolbar button, too. It's a game-changer being able to tweak sleep timers or brightness levels without interrupting what you're watching.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Verdict

I’m convinced the Sony Bravia 9 II is the undisputed champion of RGB TVs. By pairing extreme peak luminance with unprecedented dimming control and top-tier processing, Sony has delivered a display that easily holds its ground against the best OLED TVs on the market. It isn't cheap, and the persistent limit of two HDMI 2.1 ports will annoy power users, but those are minor compromises on an otherwise breathtaking television.

If you want something cheaper (and we wouldn’t blame you for doing so), the step-down Sony Bravia 7 II delivers much of the same True RGB color magic for a significantly lower price tag. Alternatively, if you're still not convinced anything can beat OLED's perfect black levels, the LG C6 remains a phenomenal pick for dark-room viewing.

That said, if you have a bright living space and want the absolute peak of cinematic color and brightness finesse, the RGB LED-powered Bravia 9 II is worth every single penny.

As Senior TV Editor, I see nearly every TV release year after year. It’s a special opportunity to share a ton of helpful context with folks shopping for a new TV, but it also means that I’m liable to lose sight of how the average person feels about the state of the industry.

This is why, for the last several weeks, we’ve been asking you — the readers — which major TV brand you consider to be the most trustworthy.

Between Hisense, LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL and Vizio, one brand proved more trustworthy than the rest — and it wasn’t particularly close. Sony, makers of some of the best TVs you can buy, rose above the competition. Here’s how the rest of the pack stacked up.

Trusted TV brands: Full results

In just over two weeks, our poll compiled just over 3,200 votes. Here's a breakdown of the results at the time of publishing:

Among our readers, Sony-branded QLEDs, OLEDs and True RGB TVs are the most trusted. LG and Samsung are closely positioned in second and third place, while TCL, Hisense and Vizio received far fewer votes overall.

It's an interesting time to analyze these results. We recently conducted a week-long exercise in which we doled out report cards to these brands, grading each on performance, features, price and more. Sony received our highest grade for performance (A). However, Sony was also the recipient of the lowest grade we handed out for price (C-).

Our reasoning for these grades is simple: Sony's superb engineering and unparalleled picture processing amount to some of the best performance money can buy. Unfortunately, the cost of this consistency is often passed down to the viewer, as Sony TVs tend to be priced higher than rival TVs.

Sony TVs in 2026 and beyond

If Sony's 2026 Bravia TV lineup is any indication, the company is perfectly comfortable assuming the role of a trusted premium TV-maker — even if its mid-range and luxury models are priced higher than the competition.

Interestingly, our poll proves that viewers and TV-shoppers aren't necessarily fazed by this arrangement. Among our readers, Sony is more trustworthy than LG and Samsung (brands that specialize in high-end performance) and far more trustworthy than TCL and Hisense (brands commonly associated with value-forward, budget-friendly models).

Recently, Sony spun out its TV business, with rival brand TCL taking on a 51% stake in the operation. It's tough to say how this might affect Sony TVs, TCL TVs and the reputation of both brands.

We'll be continuing to run the poll, so if you haven't responded to our poll about TV-brand trustworthiness, we want to hear from you: Your input could help shape how these companies will build, tune, and market these TVs in 2027 and beyond.

More from Tom's Guide

• We just graded every TV brand on price, performance and more — here’s how their report cards stack up
• This RGB LED TV is the one to buy if the Sony Bravia 9 II is outside of your budget
• TCL and Sony are joining forces to sell more TVs — but is that bad news for shoppers?

This week, Sony held its Q3 earnings call where the company confirmed that it is "cautiously" moving forward with plans to stop producing physical versions of PlayStation games starting in 2028, CFO Lin Tao said (see Tao's comments in this video from Kotaku's Ethan Gach).

“When we think about the future, and we put in a lot of thought and time, and we cautiously considered this, and we came to this conclusion. And we’re going to cautiously move this forward,” Tao said.

Sony has been receiving near-daily backlash from gamers online; most of the backlash isn't over the medium of discs itself but a perceived lack of ownership since most digital sales are "licenses," not something you actually own. Data from Circana analyst Mat Piscatella highlighted that in 2008 over 100 PlayStation games sold more than 100,000 copies. This year, only 7 reached that mark.

Unfortunately, Sony made this announcement just as prices are skyrocketing for RAM and storage, forcing hikes on everything from phones to laptops and anything that requires memory thanks to AI-driven supply constraints.

With that in mind, I decided to take a look at how much memory you would need for the 37 first-party games released for the PlayStation 5 since it launched in 2020.

Here's the full list of the games

• Astro Bot
• Astro’s Playroom
• Days Gone Remastered
• Death Stranding: Director’s Cut
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Demon’s Souls remake
• Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut
• Ghost of Yōtei
• God of War Ragnarök
• God of War: Sons of Sparta
• Gran Turismo 7
• Helldivers 2
• Horizon Forbidden West
• Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
• Lego Horizon Adventures
• Lost Soul Aside
• Midnight Murder Club
• MLB The Show 21
• MLB The Show 22
• MLB The Show 23
• MLB The Show 24
• MLB The Show 25
• MLB The Show 26
• Nioh collection (Nioh 1 & 2 Remastered)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Returnal
• Rise of the Ronin
• Sackboy: A Big Adventure
• Saros
• Spider-Man Remastered
• Spider-Man 2
• Spider-Man: Miles Morales
• Stellar Blade
• The Last of Us Part 1 remake
• The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered
• Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection
• Until Dawn remake

Using the listed download size from the PlayStation Store, I found that the 37 games totaled 2,989.1 GB, or about 2.99 TB.

The PS5 comes with 1TB of storage, which you can expand with an m.2 SSD or an external hard drive. To fit all of these games, plus whatever extra space is needed for the operating system and any patches you're going to want, at a minimum, a 4TB hard drive.

At the time of writing, the officially licensed 4TB WD Black NVMe m.2 SSD that PlayStation recommends sells for $789.99 on Amazon. That is $400 more than the same hard drive cost a year ago, and about as much as the PS5 Pro.

The cheapest 4TB drive, possibly compatible with the PS5, that I could find is a refurbished Samsung 990 Pro for $419.99 from Best Buy.

Unfortunately, those prices aren't likely to get better, as SK Hynix, one of the big three RAM manufacturers alongside Samsung and Micron, recently warned that 2027 will be even worse for RAM prices. And it's unlikely to get better by 2028, when Sony will stop making and selling physical copies of PS5 games.

Between rising prices and fears over ownership, gamers are stuck in a rough spot for the next few years. And that doesn't even account for the higher price they'll likely have to pay for a PS6 to play games from the next console generation.

More from Tom's Guide

• Sony TV report card 2026: Is the 'Sony tax' still worth paying?
• If PlayStation wants to succeed with all-digital, it needs to follow the Steam model — 5 ways it can win over gamers like me
• Sony TV report card 2026: Is the 'Sony tax' still worth paying?

This week, we handed out report cards to the biggest brands in the TV industry: Hisense, LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL and Vizio.

The goal was simple: grade each TV-maker on pricing, design, features and performance. We also took a hard look at each of these brands' software.

Now that these familiar names have received their respective report cards, it's time to meet them in the classroom for a conference about how they're doing this year. If you're shopping for the best TV in 2026, this ought to give you a pretty clear picture about how to spend your money.

Pricing

Of the six names in the mix, Hisense, TCL and Vizio led the class in the all-important pricing category. If you’ve shopped for a TV lately, this probably won’t come as a surprise.

Vizio has focused almost entirely on ultra-affordable TVs in recent years. While the rest of the big-name brands tinker with high-end, cutting-edge technologies like RGB LED and QD-OLED, Vizio is focused on more cost-effective hardware.

Meanwhile, the most-popular entry-level sets in Hisense and TCL’s primary lineups tend to be more affordable than those of LG, Samsung and Sony. In addition, it’s often the case that, when comparing similarly priced models, Hisense and TCL TVs offer a bit more bang for your buck when it comes to features.

Winner: Tie (Hisense, TCL and Vizio)

Design

When it comes to design, Samsung and Sony lead the way. Sony’s top TVs often arrive with multiple stand configurations, and its most recent True RGB TVs feature a unique stand design that effectively hides cables by way of lenticular lensing.

Samsung consistently innovates at the higher end of its lineup, too, popularizing matte-style screens, external connectivity hubs and, most recently, eye-catching metallic frames. Affordable, entry-level Samsung QLEDs lean into the simplistic nature of their display hardware, often arriving with sleek, slim panels that play the part of a more-premium set.

LG’s most noteworthy TVs — its OLEDs — are handsomely engineered, too, but the worldwide leader in OLED TVs doesn’t seem too eager to move away from tried and true formulas.

TCL and Hisense are purveyors of TVs with safe, middle-of-the-road designs that don’t innovate as much as they respond to (and replicate) industry trends. Their higher-end TVs tend to carry their best design characteristics.

Winner: Tie (Samsung and Sony)

Features

Years ago, LG was among the first TV-makers to outfit its TVs with a full slate of HDMI 2.1 inputs. This aggressive approach to supplemental features has carried all the way into 2026, where the company narrowly leads TCL and Samsung when it comes to gaming- and streaming-related enhancements.

Although Samsung’s top-shelf TVs are jam-packed with extras, there are plenty of people shopping in this higher price tier expecting the full package. Without Dolby Vision support, LG’s top TVs are the most feature-complete.

Sony is the last of these brands to embrace full HDMI 2.1 support. Fortunately, that seems to be the new standard for the brand as the company looks to leverage newer chipsets in 2026 and beyond.

This year, Hisense and TCL are similar in how they approach feature availability across their respective lineups, but for the last couple of years, Hisense has traded a fourth HDMI input for a USB-C DisplayPort on its higher-end models — a move that might disappoint home theater enthusiasts looking to plug in every single one of their HDMI-equipped devices.

Being the brand most concerned with affordability above all else, it’s no surprise that Vizio is the brand least concerned with premium features.

Winner: LG

Performance

Although TCL and Hisense make exceptional TVs, LG, Samsung and Sony are the brands to consider if you’re looking for top-tier, best-in-the-business performance.

Of the six brands we graded, LG, Samsung and Sony are the only three that make OLED TVs. Despite the rapid ascension of RGB LED technology, OLED remains the best all-around option (provided you don’t need super-high full-field brightness to overcome a sun-soaked room). And, of the graded brands releasing RGB LED TVs in 2026, Samsung and Sony have impressed me the most with the Samsung R95H and Sony Bravia 9 II.

These brands also deliver better picture processing than Hisense, TCL and Vizio. On the whole, Sony TVs feature better processing than any other brand, but LG and Samsung aren’t far behind.

At the mid-range and entry level, ranking the brands’ performance isn’t as cut and dry. Hisense and TCL have fortified their position as the best bang-for-your-buck brands in these price tiers because they typically offer brighter pictures with better contrast control. In many cases, you could spend the same amount of money on an entry-level or mid-range LED TV from LG, Samsung or Sony and walk away with a less-impressive picture.

Vizio is… Well, Vizio. The Walmart-owned brand doesn’t make high-end flagships anymore, and the rest of its TVs are affordably made models engineered primarily to generate ad revenue by way of its web-based software. There’s nothing wrong with buying a Vizio TV as long as you’re shopping for affordability instead of sheer picture prowess.

Winner: Sony

Smart TV platform

Hisense, TCL and Sony offer the smoothest streaming experiences thanks to their built-in Google TV smart platform. It’s my second-favorite choice behind the Roku operating system on account of its relatively straightforward interface and vast library of downloadable apps.

LG and Samsung fall to a lower tier, primarily because their respective software suites aren’t as easy to navigate. Both LG’s webOS and Samsung’s Smart Hub also come with a unique set of annoyances, like unnecessary AI features and auto-playing content.

Vizio is to be avoided if you’re hoping to avoid buying an external streaming device, as its proprietary software lags behind the five other brands. The interface is inundated with more ads than its competitors (including auto-playing commercials) and its app selection is limited.

Winner: Hisense, TCL and Sony

Overall Brand Grades

So, you’re shopping for a TV this year and you want to put all of this information to proper use. Allow me to simplify things.

If you’re looking to splash out on a top-performing TV with an emphasis on design and features, LG and Samsung ought to be at the top of your list of options. At the highest price tier, Sony’s TVs offer similarly excellent performance and design, but some of these models don’t offer as many gaming-related features despite their steep cost.

If you’re looking for a mid-range TV in the Goldilocks Zone between affordability and high performance, consider Hisense and TCL. These two brands are especially suited for mid-range TV-shoppers on the hunt for the brightest possible picture, since Hisense and TCL specialize in budget-friendly Mini-LED TVs that don’t skimp on display hardware. (For what it’s worth, Hisense and TCL flagship models are usually quite good — just not as impressive as flagships from LG, Samsung and Sony.)

If you’re looking to spend as little as possible, I strongly recommend shopping for something from Hisense or TCL over anything from Insignia, Pioneer or Onn. I also recommend Hisense and TCL over Vizio, unless you’re comfortable with Vizio’s ad-heavy software experience.

Next year, we’ll grade all of these brands again. That means there’s plenty of time for them to study up.

When buying a TV, you enter a long-term relationship with the brand that made it. For the next several years, your day-to-day viewing experience will be the result of countless decisions made by the folks who work for that company — from the TV’s performance to the feel of the software.

As professional TV-testers, no one understands this relationship better than us. That’s why we’re handing out report cards to the biggest names in the industry this week, grading each in categories ranging from price to performance and software. (Yesterday we evaluated LG's 2026 so far.)

Today, we’re taking a look at Sony, makers of OLEDs, QLEDs and, most recently, a lineup of TVs that tap a brand-new technology that the company has dubbed True RGB.

Pricing

Let’s start with the most controversial aspect of Sony’s presence in the TV space. You might’ve heard of something called “the Sony Tax,” a derisive term used to describe the often high price of Sony TVs relative to rival models.

I try to avoid this term on account of its flippancy, but there’s no denying that the cost of any given Sony TV is typically higher than TVs in the same class with similar specs.

Take, for instance, the recently released Sony Bravia 7 II. It’s the most affordable TV in Sony’s lineup to feature the brand’s True RGB display technology, but at the time of publishing, a 65-inch Bravia 7 II will set you back $1,999 at Best Buy.

For an entry-level RGB LED TV, this is relatively steep. Consider this: Hisense’s most-affordable RGB LED TV, the UR8, is $1,299. Even Samsung’s cheapest Micro RGB TV is $1,699 at the 65-inch size point.

Some TV experts and A/V enthusiasts would argue that Sony’s premium pricing is justified by the brand’s meticulous engineering and commitment to consistency. In fact, I’m one of those people — there isn’t a brand I trust more when it comes to how well a TV handles the little things. Everything from upscaling to motion handling is almost guaranteed to be exceptionally realized on a Sony TV, and Bravia TVs in particular are considered by many to be guided by the best picture processing in the game.

But there’s no way around it: Sony TVs are priced higher than most of the competition.

Grade: C-

Design

Just as Sony TVs are known for excellent processing, so too have they earned a reputation for showcasing thoughtful design approaches.

Oftentimes, Sony TVs arrive with multiple stand configurations to accommodate different home theater setups. Mid-range and high-end Sony TVs ship with remote controls that offer a full spread of buttons (including an input button), and in recent years, these remotes are often backlit — a hugely convenient feature.

The brand innovates in its design approach, too, which is not easy to do in an industry where standards are slow to change.

Take the Sony Bravia 9 II, for instance (Sony’s top TV for 2026). This TV’s pedestal-style stand is outfitted with a special, lenticular material that hides cables when viewed from the front.

The illusion is tough to explain unless you’re standing in front of the Bravia 9 II, but it’s unlike any design flourish on the market from competing brands.

Grade: A-

Features

For the majority of my career covering the TV industry, Sony has been behind the eight ball somewhat when it comes to features.

On one hand, the brand isn’t afraid to showcase relatively niche enhancements for audio- and video-related functions, and high-end Sony TVs offer a ton of ways to tweak the sound and picture. But, conversely, Sony lagged behind its competitors in standardizing out-of-the-box features like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and it’s been slow to embrace the implementation of universal HDMI 2.1 inputs.

The good news is that the brand seems to be in the process of course-correcting. The Bravia 3 II — an entry-level model for 2026 — comes with a full slate of HDMI 2.1 inputs. Weirdly, though, the Bravia 9 II is limited to just two out of four inputs with HDMI 2.1 functionality, due to the fact that it was developed over several years with an older chipset.

Grade: B-

Performance

If you’re interested in an accurate presentation, nothing looks quite as sharp as a Sony TV. Its engineers sink countless hours into the development of new technologies designed to bring the picture as close as possible to the creator’s intent. Even at the lower end of the Bravia TV lineup, you can pretty much always count on Sony to make the most of a set’s hardware — whatever the limitations may be.

To give you an idea of Sony’s commitment to accuracy, consider this: For as searingly bright as the Sony Bravia 9 II is capable of getting, if you put a 10% white window on the screen and measure it in the TV’s Professional SDR picture mode, you will almost certainly receive a rating of 100 nits on the dot. This is because 100 nits is the industry standard for professional reference monitors when mastering for SDR.

Sony TVs may not be the brightest in any given year, but the attention to detail on display in everything from sub-4K upscaling to color gradients is staggeringly good. As a result, its TVs often lap brighter, punchier TVs in several key performance categories.

In other words, high-end Sony TVs are built for picture enthusiasts.

Grade: A

Smart TV platform

Like several competing brands, Sony TVs leverage the Google TV streaming platform. While not perfect, for most people, this is perfectly fine.

The worst thing I can say about Google TV is that its layout is stuffed with sponsored content. This is more or less the case with every streaming platform outside of a few, though, and there’s a lot to be said for the sheer volume of downloadable services available via the platform’s app library.

For what it’s worth, I’ve always found that Sony’s own menu software harmonizes pretty well with the skeletal structure of Google TV. Aside from the claustrophobia-inducing amount of ads, using a Sony TV in 2026 is mostly a breeze.

Grade: B+

Overall grade: B-

In 2026, Sony TVs are laser-targeted at home theater-owners, A/V enthusiasts and all-around picture purists. The attention to detail on display from a presentation standpoint is astonishing, and the brand's approach to design is among the best in the business, too.

Unfortunately, Sony TVs tend to be pricier than the competition. Even if you feel — as I do — that the higher pricing is often justified when considering the high level of performance associated with some of these sets, the fact of the matter is that it limits the scope of who can shop for certain Sony TVs.

If you're shopping for a Sony TV in 2026, the one to buy is the Sony Bravia 9 II. In a year chock-full of RGB LED TVs, Sony's flagship model is the gold standard. In many ways, given its unique design and intricate hardware, the Bravia 9 II is the "most Sony" TV that Sony has ever made.

We’re still evaluating the Bravia 9 II, but I’ll give you a little sneak-preview: Sony’s RGB LED flagship is one of the best TVs of the year.

The brand’s spin on the all-new display technology — dubbed True RGB — serves as a reminder that Sony is one of the top TV-makers in the world. But if you were hoping to get your hands on the Bravia 9 II, you’ll have to make peace with its ultra-high price tag.

Fortunately, there’s another way to get a taste of Sony’s True RGB engineering at a much friendlier price: the Bravia 7 II. Having tested the Bravia 7 II, we can confirm that it’s an impressive, mid-range alternative to its higher-end sibling. It's the set I recommend if you’re hesitant to splash out on the top TV in Sony’s lineup.

The Bravia 7 II is the mid-range RGB LED TV to beat this year

As Sony’s most affordable True RGB TV, the Bravia 7 II may not be as impressive as the flagship model, but there’s an argument to be made that it’s better than the 2024 Bravia 9 (one of the best Mini-LED TVs I’ve ever seen).

Let’s take a look at how the Bravia 7 II stacks up against the original Bravia 9 and the all-new Bravia 9 II.

As far as brightness goes, the Bravia 7 II peaks just below what we measured on the Bravia 9. This is plenty bright for most viewing environments, and while the Bravia 9 has some extra oomph, it’s not as significant as one might expect.

The real kicker is the Bravia 7 II’s ability to showcase color. Driven by Sony’s True RGB technology, it covers an impressive 87% of the BT.2020 color gamut. It’s a sizable step up from the Bravia 9 and right in line with the Bravia 9 II.

With a better array of RGB backlights with more-precise dimming, the Bravia 9 II is undoubtedly the better-performing TV. But make no mistake: The Bravia 7 II is packing a ton of horsepower under the hood.

Sony’s mid-range model also comes with a comparable set of features. Just like the Bravia 9 II, the 7 II supports 4K content at 120Hz across two of its four total HDMI inputs. You’re also getting Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Dolby Vision support and the Google TV streaming platform right out of the box.

Sony Bravia 7 II: outlook

None of this is to suggest that the Bravia 9 II isn’t worth buying. Far from it. But as is the case with many mid-range OLED TVs (like the LG C6), the Bravia 7 II feels closer in spirit to a high-end, luxury purchase than a middle-of-the road compromise.

Consider this: The 65-inch Bravia 7 II just went on sale for $1,999 at Best Buy. That’s $600 off its original price and only a couple hundred bucks more than the 65-inch C6 OLED.

The value proposition is even more compelling when you consider the top-shelf option. Right now, the 65-inch Bravia 9 II is $3,299 at Best Buy — a whopping $1,300 more than the Bravia 7 II.

The Bravia 9 II might prove to be one of the best-performing TVs of the year, but the Bravia 7 II will almost certainly be the set I recommend more often between now and the holiday-shopping season. This True RGB has a chance to be a true sleeper hit.

More from Tom's Guide

• Sony’s new Bravia 7 II has a secret weapon that makes it so good
• I saw Sony's Bravia 9 II up close and it completely shattered my expectations — here’s why it’s the king of RGB TVs
• There's a better cable for TVs than HDMI — but here's why we'll probably never use it

PlayStation is officially killing physical discs, and gamers aren’t happy. The company’s social media accounts can’t post anything without being slammed with negative comments, and even websites and influencers who are usually fans of PlayStation are taking them to task. Sony has yet to respond to any of this, which is likely making the situation worse. In short, this whole no-disc situation is a mess.

Sony says that digital now accounts for the vast majority of PlayStation game sales — hitting 85% in the most recent quarter — and it also nets a greater profit from digital purchases than physical, so it’s unlikely the company will reverse this controversial decision. However, if Sony wants to start (re)building trust with its fanbase, there are ways to make an all-digital future more palatable, namely by copying some of what has made Steam successful.

Steam has been a rousing success on PC for many years. Though Valve doesn’t offer physical games, it provides users with plenty of incentives to remain satisfied with their digital purchases and with the platform overall. I don’t expect Sony to completely copy Steam, but it can adopt similar policies if it ends disc production in January 2028.

Here are five practical, realistic adaptations Sony can take to make PSN more player-friendly.

More frequent (and enticing) sales

While PC gaming has higher upfront costs than consoles, it has become more affordable over time thanks to frequent Steam sales. Steam keeps its online store thriving with major seasonal sales and near-constant publisher promotions. Games also drop in price faster and more aggressively. This is why Steam users (like me) end up with libraries of hundreds of games. It’s hard to pass up a title when it’s just a few bucks!

The PlayStation Store has its own sales events, such as Days of Play, Black Friday, and other holiday sales, along with weekly deals. However, full-price windows for new games are longer, and we usually only see extreme deep discounts when a game is all but forgotten. I’ve taken advantage of PSN sales and snatched some good titles, but the sales and discounts still don’t match those of Steam.

In an all-digital world, Sony would have complete control over pricing. Using Steam-style volume-driven discounting on the back catalog (and even earlier on mid-tier titles) would encourage more impulse and library-building purchases, rather than people either waiting for huge discounts or skipping entirely.

A true “try before you fully commit” refund policy

Right now, Steam arguably has the best refund policy in gaming. So long as you play a game for less than two hours total, you have 14 days to receive a full refund. This is a fantastic way to avoid purchasing a game that doesn’t click for you. While not technically a game demo, it pretty much serves the same “try before you buy” ethos.

PlayStation also has a 14-day refund policy, but it only applies if you haven’t downloaded a game. Once you start downloading, you no longer qualify for a refund unless the file is corrupt or you make a strong case to customer support that you purchased a game in error. This is frustrating enough now, but it will feel even worse if you can’t refund a digital title priced at $70–$80.

A playtime-based refund window, similar to Steam’s, would go a long way toward increasing purchase confidence without requiring Sony to change its curated store model. It’s actually wild that Sony doesn’t already have a similar policy, but the company should try it now if it plans to go all-in on an all-digital console.

Stronger household/family sharing

Sharing games is one of the main reasons gamers love physical media. While sharing digital content isn’t the same as handing a copy to someone else, Steam has a digital sharing policy that could work well for Sony.

On Steam, up to six family members can share a unified game library. Multiple members can play different games at the same time (you need multiple owned copies of the same game for concurrent play).

PlayStation has sharing features, but they’re more limited.

Console Sharing lets you log in to your account on a friend’s PS5 so they can play your games. Share Play lets you share your screen with a friend online and virtually hand them your controller. Though both of these methods work as advertised, a person cannot simply play games from another account on their own console in a straightforward way.

Expanding sharing options on PlayStation so a household can more easily share a digital library (with reasonable restrictions against abuse) wouldn’t be as seamless as lending someone a physical game, but it would at least offer gamers something comparable.

Better discovery tools

Steam does a fantastic job with its wishlists, price-drop notifications, “players also like,” and other recommendations driven by player data. PlayStation has its own versions of these, but they could be updated to be more useful.

The store’s recent lowest-price-in-30-days indicator is a good step, but Sony can go further with smarter recommendations, clearer sale calendars, and stronger wishlist alerts. That last one really needs work — I feel like wishlist alerts are random at best, if I get them at all.

Improving discovery is an easy way to help players find and buy more games within Sony’s closed ecosystem. If you want people to buy digital games, you need to make it easier for them to find games they would actually like.

Clearer long-term library guarantees and library management

One of the biggest reasons Sony is facing so much heat right now is the lack of clear guarantees about long-term access to the games players buy. Without physical discs, players worry more about access, storage, and account longevity. This is something that Stop Killing Games founder Ross Scott detailed when we interviewed him about Sony's decision to stop manufacturing discs.

Sony can learn from Steam’s emphasis on transparent licensing, robust cloud saves, and better tools for managing large digital libraries. Explicit, public commitments to offline play and long-term download availability would go a long way toward easing the anxiety surrounding digital-only ownership.

This is arguably the most important issue Sony has to address. People (rightly) want some form of ownership of the games they buy, especially when those games are digital. I’m not saying this will please everyone — some folks are certainly ride-or-die physical gamers — but clearer guarantees would ease much of the current anxiety.

Bottom line

I want to be clear that I am not dunking on Sony or PlayStation. The PS5 Pro is my primary gaming platform, after all. But as a PlayStation gamer since the early 2000s (thanks to the Gran Turismo 3 PS2 bundle!), I want to see the company do right by loyal customers like me.

PSN is not inherently broken. Sony already runs a polished, high-production store. However, things need to change when discs disappear. Adopting some of Steam’s more player-friendly policies would not only benefit gamers but also Sony, which would benefit from a more committed user base.

Sony will ultimately do what it believes is in its best interest. That said, prioritizing what customers want, genuinely listening, and addressing concerns would go a long way. Hopefully, Sony does right by its user base and makes an all-digital future on its consoles as acceptable as it is on Steam.

More from Tom's Guide

• Valve gives official update on Steam Machine and Steam Frame launch
• Steam Machine reviews are here: 'Even Valve is disappointed'
• The new Steam Controller is the only PC gamepad I'll ever need

It seems like there’s no going back. I initially thought that Sony’s decision to phase out physical discs for PlayStation 5 had such a long run-in time that there was deliberate wiggle room for a slightly embarrassing U-turn before 2028.

However, The Verge is reporting that Sony’s Thalgau plant is already being repurposed to make optical microlenses instead. In other words, this wasn’t testing the waters with an announcement and checking for feedback — this was fait accompli: a decision already decided upon, with loyal customers the last to know.

No wonder the company’s popular Xbox-baiting game loaning video from the PS4 era is now being thrown back in its corporate face. Despite effectively taking brutal advantage of Microsoft’s anti-consumer error with a viral marketing video, Sony got to a very similar place in the end. It just took them longer.

Assuming there is no room for the expensive U-turn that Microsoft ended up screeching around 13 years ago, then that’s the end of the road for me with PlayStation.

It’s not that I’m averse to digital gaming, I just have very little faith in Sony’s ability to deliver it at a reasonable price.

The worst of both worlds

In theory, I can see the case for a digital-only console. A PS6 without a disc drive should be cheaper to manufacture (though that doesn’t mean cheap, given the soaring price of hardware), and as a PC gamer, I haven’t owned a computer with a disc drive in well over a decade.

But I consciously made the opposite choice when I pre-ordered my day-one PS5: I paid extra for the model with a disc drive, safe in the knowledge that over the long run, the extra cost would be recouped, after borrowing and trading in games had been taken into account.

Which isn’t to say I don’t see the benefit of digital. While nine times out of ten, I would buy the disc version for resale value and the ability to loan my favourite games to friends, I still would buy from the PlayStation store occasionally. After all, you can’t beat the convenience of instantly accessing a game no matter what time of day or night. The PlayStation Store never sleeps.

Indeed, 99% of my PC games come digitally via Steam, and it works brilliantly. But it’s not a like-for-like comparison, because ironically part of what makes Steam such a popular option is its competition. There’s no shortage of places to buy PC games from the Epic Store to GOG, so Steam can’t rest on its laurels: its prices have to stay competitive, especially during the frequent sales.

Sony could replicate this, allowing third-party game stores on PS6, but why would it? If there’s only one place to buy games, Sony can charge a healthy platform fee for every sale, safe in the knowledge that there’s no alternative (Valve gets away with between 20 and 30% depending on sales figures, despite gamers being able to vote with their feet).

There was outrage when it was announced that PS5 games would cost $70, but at least people knew they could recoup some of the costs when finished. With development costs spiralling, it wouldn’t be surprising if PS6 pricing goes even higher — and we’ve already seen some evidence of this price inflation with the MSRP of $80 plus for the digital-first GTA 6.

Without physical game shops to compete with, Sony has far more control over sales too. The company can reduce both frequency and discount percentage, safe in the knowledge that you’ve got no alternative. If you want the game, you’ll have to pay whatever Sony wants or go without.

That’s not even considering the other downsides of digital-only games. What if your account gets hacked and Sony bans you? You’ve lost access to all the games you’d paid for. What if Sony decides to remove a game before you downloaded it? Tough luck, it’s gone forever. That’s why PS4 consoles with the deleted PT demo were listed on Ebay for over $1,000 a decade ago.

Farewell PlayStation

With the expected price of PS6 blowing past even those PT scalping prices, I was already contemplating opting out of a Sony console for the first time since I was at university with my trusty GameCube.

This move seals the deal. I’ll keep playing PS5 games, but once publishers stop making them and I finish my substantial backlog, I’ll turn off a PlayStation console for the last time. If I have to play digital-only, my PC and Steam Deck will get all the love going forward. Thanks anyway, Sony.

More from Tom's Guide

• We spoke to Stop Killing Games about PlayStation killing discs
• Steam Machine vs. PS5 Pro — there’s a clear winner
• Splatoon Raiders hands-on preview: I'm already hooked

After a week of testing it with the darkest scenes I could find, the Sony Bravia 7 II True RGB TV made me reconsider what today’s TVs are actually capable of in low light. I lined up the usual stress‑test material — everything from “The Batman” to “House of the Dragon” — and watched it alongside my Samsung Neo QLED TV to see how each set handled the same challenges. I wasn’t trying to crown a winner right away; I just wanted to see how differently two modern TVs approach the same problem.

In our Bravia 7 II review, we praised the TV for its ability to deliver "really deep blacks" alongside "precisely managed highlights", but its handling of contrast goes deeper than that — what stood out to me was how the Bravia 7 II's True RGB backlight system treated near‑black detail.

Even before digging into side‑by‑side comparisons, it was clear Sony’s Bravia 7 II had a distinct way of presenting dark scenes that didn’t rely on simply brightening them. That contrast with the Mini LED-backed Samsung TV became more noticeable the longer I watched.

The main takeaway is that the Bravia 7 II doesn’t try to reshape dark scenes to make them easier to see — it leans into how they were graded. Sometimes that means a scene stays intentionally dim; other times it reveals details that are easy to miss on other sets. Taking into account how difficult it is to accurately capture the colour and brightness of all RGB TVs in photos, here's how the Bravia 7 II handled the darkest scenes I could throw at it.

‘House of the Dragon’

Like many people who watched the first season of HBO’s “House of the Dragon”, I was incredibly frustrated by one episode that was almost impossible to sit through. I’m talking about episode seven, “Driftmark” — the one filmed and graded so darkly that I could barely tell what was happening on screen, even while watching on Samsung’s flagship at the time, the QN900A Neo QLED 8K TV.

In his testing, Vincent Teoh from the YouTube channel HDTVTest revealed that some sections of the episode “barely went above 1 nit” of brightness, so it’s no surprise that my television’s backlighting system went haywire in an attempt to compensate for the darkness on display, resulting in extreme haloing and light bloom. The episode also reportedly caused many OLED TVs to auto-dim until the image was almost totally black.

The backlash from viewers was so intense that showrunner Ryan Condal would eventually comment on the matter, telling Variety that future seasons would “take much more into account the fact that we are making the show for people’s television sets versus in a perfectly calibrated movie theater environment.” In other words, the viewing experience was less than ideal for those of us without super expensive reference monitors.

Naturally, this particular episode was my first stop in testing the Bravia 7 II’s handling of dark scenes. Taking into consideration Sony’s claims that its new True RGB TV range is factory-calibrated, I went in expecting the Bravia 7 II to do a decent job. Sure enough, I was pleased by how I could now make out what was happening in one of the most problematic scenes, which features two characters walking and talking on a beach. While the scene was clearly filmed day for night and then graded down for the sake of additional darkness, shadow detail was now much more visible, and I was able to see the characters’ faces without much issue. Don’t get me wrong — it’s still a very dark scene, but the murkiness and overcompensating backlight from my previous experience was gone.

The Bravia 7 II’s exceptional tone‑mapping also deserves credit here. Sony’s XR processor does a good job of preserving what the filmmakers actually meant you to see, especially in tougher HDR scenes. Instead of letting deep shadows swallow everything, it balances the contrast just enough so textures in faces or the outline of a creature in a night shot remain visible without brightening the whole frame.

‘The Batman’

I absolutely loved “The Batman” when I saw it in theatres, and was excited to watch it again once it hit 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. While my current Samsung QN900C Neo QLED 8K TV did a decent job displaying most of the film, it did struggle with some of its darker scenes. The opening train station brawl, in particular, was one that caused my TV to raise the brightness until blacks became somewhat grey and washed out.

Predictably, the Bravia 7 II handled this scene far better, revealing far more shadow detail without dulling the film’s contrast‑heavy mood. The moment when Batman slowly emerges from the darkness to confront a group of thugs has always been a trouble spot on the aforementioned Samsung TV, yet here it finally looked as dark and dramatic as I imagine the filmmakers intended.

It’s likely that Sony’s XR Backlight Master Drive, which uses a proprietary dimming algorithm, played a big part in keeping “The Batman” moody and dark without letting the shadows turn into a murky blur. The automatic switch to Dolby Vision Bright could also have helped, lifting just enough detail out of the deepest parts of the frame without noticeably changing the film’s overall tone.

‘Only God Forgives’

Next, I moved to a film that’s notoriously tough on both OLED and Mini‑LED displays: “Only God Forgives”, from director Nicolas Winding Refn. Its relentless swings between pitch‑black shadows and hyper‑saturated neon highlights often expose local‑dimming delays, where the backlight or pixels can’t react quickly enough, creating faint ghosting that pulls you out of the moment.

The film’s heavy use of harsh red lighting against deep darkness also pushes the red channel hard, sometimes leading to clipping that bleeds into surrounding objects and wipes out fine detail along edges and contours.

A big part of why these issues show up is simply how most TVs generate brightness in the first place. Mini‑LED sets rely on a white backlight, and WRGB OLEDs boost luminance with a white subpixel. When a scene suddenly demands intense, saturated colour — especially neon red — the TV often leans on that white source to hit the required brightness. In a film this stylised, that can wash out the purity of the colour, lift nearby blacks, and make edges look a little less clean than they should.

Unsurprisingly, the Bravia 7 II’s ability to drive pure red, green, and blue light straight to the screen — without relying on any white backlight boost — made “Only God Forgives” look exactly the way I imagine the director and his cinematographer intended. While it’s still very much a dark film, the red highlights looked vibrant and well‑defined, without any noticeable bleed into faces or surrounding objects when viewed in person (that nuance doesn’t always translate perfectly in photos — as I mentioned earlier, TVs this bright and saturated can be surprisingly tricky to capture accurately).

In the end, the Bravia 7 II handled the darkest, most demanding scenes even better than I expected. It kept deep contrast intact while still pulling out the small bits of shadow detail that usually disappear on other sets, all without brightening the image in a way that would undermine what the filmmakers were going for. And with its True RGB backlight system doing the heavy lifting, the Bravia 7 II comes across as a strong option for anyone who cares about accurate, well‑controlled dark‑scene performance — one that gets about as close to a reference‑monitor experience as the consumer TV space currently allows.

More from Tom's Guide

• We just tested the Bravia 7 II — here’s why I think it could be the Sony TV to buy in 2026
• I saw Sony's Bravia 9 II up close and it completely shattered my expectations — here’s why it’s the king of RGB TVs
• Samsung's new Micro RGB TV is finally here — but I'd rather buy this OLED instead

As we get ever closer to the 4th of July, the big sales keep on coming. Yesterday I covered the best Target tech deals and now I'm looking at the retailer's enviable selection of cameras.

If you're looking to step up from taking snaps on your smartphone, then you'll want to at least consider a DSLR. I've picked out some top models from Canon, Nikon and Sony here, across a range of different price points.

Alternatively, you might be after something much simpler. If so, I've also selected a few cool instant cameras that are just the thing for taking on your summer trips.

There are lots more things to buy in the 4th of July sales. If you're looking for more deals then check out our guides to Best Buy's appliance sale, as well as its TV and audio sales too.

The deals just keep coming! Yes, Amazon's Prime Day sales may be over, but Best Buy is already running a huge 4th of July sale that's offering lots of great bargains. We covered the Best Buy TV sale earlier and now we're rounding up the best Bluetooth speakers, which you can get right now with some pretty deep discounts.

Bluetooth speakers come in all shapes and sizes and have a variety of price points to match. We've started our selection with some good value Soundcore and Marshall offerings that are ideal for taking to the beach or lounging by the pool. We've then turned our attention to some feature-packed offerings from the likes of JBL before rounding out with some seriously high-end speakers from the likes of Sony and Klipsch.

For more amazing deals, make sure to check out our guide to the best 4th of July sales.

The end is near for this year’s EOFY sales, with the price‑cut frenzy wrapping up as June 30 comes to a close. Even so, there’s still time to snag a last‑minute TV bargain before the new financial year kicks in.

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your TV, this is the moment to stop scrolling and start grabbing. Retailers are clearing out stock fast, and the mix of price drops, bonus offers and surprise markdowns means you can pick up a genuinely great screen for far less than you’d expect.

I’ve seen bargains you wouldn’t believe. Door‑buster TV deals stacked higher than warehouse shelves, flash sales that lit up retailer sites like neon signs in the night. I watched prices plunge in the final hours of EOFY, deeper than anyone thought possible. All of those deals will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to buy.

I cannot stress this enough — this is your last chance to score an epic TV deal at clearance prices before the EOFY sales are over. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to refresh your home setup with a new Samsung, Sony or Hisense television, you won't find a better time than now — here are my picks for the best last-minute EOFY TV deals.

So there you have it — my roundup of best TV deals from this year’s EOFY sales. If you’ve been thinking about an OLED upgrade, want to see how the latest RGB tech performs, or simply feel like it’s time for a larger TV, these options are well worth a look. But you'd better act fast — the discounts won’t stick around past July 1.

I’ve spent the past couple of weeks putting Sony’s new Bravia 7 II True RGB TV through its paces (with a deeper dive coming next week), and so far I've been seriously impressed by its contrast, colour accuracy and brightness.

Despite being one step below Sony's flagship Bravia 9 II, the Bravia 7 II holds its own with the best of them. I went in expecting exceptionally vivid colours due to its use of individually controlled red, green and blue backlights, but what really blew me away was how it was able to achieve OLED-like black levels without any noticeable light bleed — all while keeping the kind of brightness you’d normally only see from the best Mini LED TVs.

As pointed out in our Bravia 7 II review, the TV is a beast when it comes to HDR performance, and my favourite thing about it has to be that it comes factory-calibrated to industry-standard levels, meaning it provides a look based on Sony's own master monitors (used by Hollywood colourists) right out of the box.

Best of all? The brand-new Bravia 7 II has already been discounted by upwards of AU$1,500 (depending on the retailer) as part of this year's EOFY sales. The biggest discount can be found on 85-inch model, which will usually set you back AU$7,499 but is currently down to AU$5,999 on Sony's online store with free shipping included. Alternatively, you could pick it up from The Good Guys for just AU$5,985, though that doesn't include shipping costs.

While the best deal can be had on the 85-incher, the next biggest discount can be found on the 75-inch model, which has dropped by AU$1,000 to just AU$5,499 AU$4,499.

Meanwhile, the 65‑inch model is now AU$700 off, dropping from AU$3,999 to AU$3,299, while the 55‑inch falls from AU$2,999 to AU$2,499, and the 50‑inch from AU$2,699 to AU$2,299.

Regardless of your preferred size option, those are are excellent deals. That said, you'd better hurry if you want to take advantage of this EOFY offer, as it'll expire after 11:59pm AEST on June 30, 2026.

I'm very picky when it comes to what headphones I use. I personally love Sony's EQ settings on their headphones, so I always gravitate towards their newest audio gear because I know I'm going to love it.

And while Sony has recently brought out the 1000X The Collexion headphones and has the flagship WH-1000XM6 on sale too, you'll have a hard job trying to get me to move on from my WH-1000XM5 headphones. Why? Because to me, they are perfect.

I love everything about them, from the sound to the ANC to the fit. And what's even better is that they're currently 50% off! For Prime Day, you can grab the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones for $198 at Amazon.

• shop all Prime Day deals at Amazon

The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are available in four different colors, including Smoky Pink (which I use and love), Black, Midnight Blue and Silver, so there's an option for everyone.

But when there’s a new version available, why would you buy the old model? Trust me, I hear ya — but the two sets of cans actually have a lot in common. I mean, they’re both some of the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy. One's just a little bit newer.

You get the same 30-hour battery life, and the sound profile isn't drastically different either.

If you want the comfort and stunning sound profile that comes with owning a pair of Sony’s flagship headphones — but are also conscious about your budget — then picking up the previous model is the best option.

We're tracking all the best Prime Day audio deals

'Tis the season. No, not that season. I meant, 'tis the season for being absolutely sweltering, not getting any sleep, and being thoroughly unproductive. I live in the south west of England, and today it's going to hit 38 degrees. So, unsurprisingly, handheld fans are well and truly in.

As such, I've rounded up a few of my favourites here, in the likely scenario that you're searching for a new one. Happily, Amazon's Prime Day deals are helping out a little, with discounts on many fans at Amazon, although there are some deals at other retailers, like B&Q/DIY.

If you need a new fan, keep reading!

9 portable fan deals to keep you cool this summer

We're tracking all the best Prime Day deals

Take it from someone who's been covering the TV business for over ten years: The majority of sets that go on sale during Prime Day are not worth buying.

However, OLED TVs from Samsung, Sony and LG are top of their class for a reason. Thanks to OLED's incredible display technology, they offer perfect black levels, pixel-level contrast control and a host of other performance-related benefits. While OLED TVs may be pricier than most LCD TVs, they make up for it when it comes to picture quality.

These are my four favorite options for under $1,000 — and, for more options, be sure to check out our Amazon Prime Day TV sales live blog to see all the latest deals.

Quick Links

• shop TV deals from $99 at Amazon
• LG 48” B5 4K OLED TV: was $649 now $599 @ Best Buy
• Samsung 48” S90F 4K OLED TV: was $1,397 now $797 @ Amazon
• LG 42” C5 4K OLED TV: was $999 now $899 @ Amazon
• Sony 55” XR8B 4K OLED TV: was $1,499 now $998 @ Amazon

My favorite Prime Day OLED deals

1. LG B5

The 48-inch LG B5 is one of the most affordable ways to bring OLED technology into your home, but in order to get it, you need to leave Amazon altogether. The 48-inch version of LG's entry-level B5 is a Best Buy-exclusive model, and right now, it's back down to its Black Friday price of just $599.

Higher-end LG OLEDs will net you better brightness than the B5, you're still getting OLED performance with LG's entry-level set, and that advantage goes a long way. Plus, the B5 offers many of the same bells and whistles as those higher-end sets.

Gamers are getting basically everything they need for current-gen consoles, as the B5 supports 4K gaming at 120Hz and comes with Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), AMD FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility. Crucially, all four of the LG B5's HDMI inputs offer HDMI 2.1 compatibility. For a $599 48-inch TV, that's tough to come by.

2. Samsung S90F

The S90F sits between Samsung's entry-level OLED, the S85F, and the flagship-level Samsung S95F. This means that it offers better performance than a more-affordable OLED TV (like the aforementioned LG B5), but still comes in at a friendly price point.

The S90F supports 4K gaming at 120Hz (and up to 144Hz when connected to a gaming PC) across all four of its HDMI 2.1-compatible inputs. FreeSync support and G-Sync compatibility are here, as well as Samsung's Gaming Hub software suite.

Several sizes in the series are on sale this week, but my favorite deal involves the 48-inch S90F. It's currently about $100 cheaper than my next pick, the 42-inch LG C5, despite offering a bigger screen.

3. LG C5

The LG C5 comes from a long line of mid-range OLED TVs whose value is almost as impressive as its performance. In fact, it's the only TV on this list to have received our coveted, five-star rating.

You can read more about this stunning TV in our LG C5 review, but the basic gist is that it's practically overflowing with value, particularly once you factor in its Prime Day sale price. Unlike the previously mentioned Samsung S90F, the C5 is a mid-range OLED that includes Dolby Vision support.

The 42-inch C5 also arrives with just about every feature you could want for gaming and streaming. Its thorough selection of gaming features is a big reason why I keep recommending it to folks in the market for a 42-inch gaming monitor.

4. Sony XR8B

Among our readers, the Sony XR8B has been a popular pick during Prime Day, Cyber Monday and Black Friday sales events for a couple of years now. Don't let its prolonged shelf life stop you from considering it, though — it's one of the most affordable ways to enjoy a Sony-engineered OLED TV in 2026.

Sony's much-lauded picture processing is the highlight here. Other OLED TVs may get brighter and offer better color volume, but even Sony's most-affordable OLEDs are driven by some of the best picture processing capabilities the industry has to offer.

The XR8B comes with plenty of features, too, like support for 4K gaming at 120Hz and the Google TV smart platform.

More from Tom's Guide

• I've been reviewing TVs for over a decade — these are the 38 Prime Day TV deals worth your time
• I'm tracking all the Nintendo Switch 2 Prime Day deals — and these are the 17 discounts I'd actually get
• Sony’s new Bravia 7 II has a secret weapon that makes it so good

The PS5 Slim is one of the best gadgets I've ever bought with my own money, and I've spent thousands of hours playing my favorite games on it. I love revisiting the classics and I'm always looking to pick up a new one I've never heard of. But let's face it: PS5 games are expensive, and not everyone can afford to pay full price.

That's where Amazon Prime Day sales come in: they're a great time to grab a PS5 game without breaking the bank. As a lover of video games, I've handpicked my top deals. The cheapest game you can buy right now is Lost Soul Aside which is down to just $9 from $59 — how could you say no to that? For football fans, EA Sports FC 26 is 64% off right now, and it's the ideal game to play during halftime as the FIFA World Cup gathers steam.

My top choice, though? Why, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, of course, which is available for $39 right now ($33 would have been more fitting, but oh well). It's a game I can't shut up about and one I recommend every gamer needs to play at least once.

That's not all. There are plenty more deals to be taken advantage of, on sports, horror, RPG, and action-adventure games. So, without further ado, here are my top Prime Day PS5 game deals (so far).

Meet your PS5 games deals expert

Quick links

• Shop all Amazon Prime Day deals now
• Lost Soul Aside: was $59 now $9
• EA Sports FC 26: was $69 now $24
• Elden Ring: was $49 now $19
• Metal Gear Solid Δ Snake Eater: was $49 now $24
• Silent Hill 2: was $39 now $19
• Assassin's Creed Shadows: was $50 now $29
• Star Wars Outlaws: was $19 now $14
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: was $49 now $39
• Resident Evil Requiem: was $69 now $55

Best Prime Day PS5 games deals

We're tracking all the best Prime Day PS5 deals

It's 10:30 on Monday as I write this, and it's already a crazy week, isn't it? The PM is headed off (again), and the Met Office app is already telling me we're in the late 20s celsius.

And it's only going to get worse. Where I am, near Bath Spa, it's forecast to hit 39C on Wednesday, with much of England's south in the same position.

Thankfully, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve. I'm the Senior Reviews Editor here at Tom's Guide, which means I get access to my fair share of tech. Ever since May, I've been calling in and testing products ready for the summer heat.

I'm not going to say I'm as cool as I'd like to be, but I'm certainly a lot more comfortable with this gear than without. And as a bonus, some of it is on sale for the Prime Day deals. Here's my essential heatwave tech.

Beat the heat: My essential heatwave gear

We're tracking all the best Prime Day deals

I've sifted through the dregs of Amazon so you don't have to — and I've found savings for five of my highest-rated soundbars. As one of Tom's Guide's resident soundbar reviewers, I've tested enough of these home cinema bad boys to know exactly which ones are worth your time (and money).

It's not even Prime Day yet, and Samsung, Sony, and Bose have all slashed prices on some of their best soundbars, including the super-budget Sony HT-S100F, Bose Smart Soundbar (usually $550!), and my personal favorite mid-range soundbar, Samsung Q600F. I genuinely didn't believe this price when I saw it — $371. For a — really good — soundbar and subwoofer? Its launch price was $599! Is this real life?

I wouldn't wait for Prime Day with deals like this, but if you want to stick around for the Tom's Guide Savings Squad to save the day, we've selected the best Prime Day deals on everything from TVs to headphones to coffee makers to smart watches.

Best early Prime Day soundbar deals: Quick links

• Sony HT-S100F: was $118 now $98 @ Amazon
• Klipsch Flexus Core 100: was $349 now $249 @ Amazon
• Sonos Beam Gen 2: was $499 now $369 @ Amazon
• Samsung Q600F: was $599 now $371 @ Amazon
• Bose Smart Soundbar: was $549 now $399 @ Amazon

Best early Prime Day soundbar deals

We're tracking all the best Prime Day soundbar deals

After six months of lab testing the year's newest TVs, it has become clear that the best TVs of 2026 are pushing brightness and color accuracy to new heights. Today’s flagship TVs from Hisense and TCL deliver good performance, thanks in large part to a backlight technology called Mini-RGB that’s changing the game for picture quality.

Yet Sony isn't sitting on the sidelines. Its new "True RGB" technology also promises independently controlled red, green, and blue LEDs under the display panel but, according to Sony, offers “purer color expression, improved light steering, and ultra-wide viewing angles.” The best part? You don’t need to empty your pockets to get a taste. Despite it being used in the flagship Bravia 9 II sibling, you can get it on the Bravia 7 II at a lower price.

But does Sony’s new tech actually live up to the hype? After putting the Sony Bravia 7 II through our rigorous lab testing workflow and spending two days watching real-world content, the results didn’t blow my expectations out of the water, but I’m still very impressed.

Sony Bravia 7 II review: Pricing and availability

The Bravia 7 II is $300 more than the starting price of the 65-inch Sony Bravia 7 we reviewed in 2025. Pricing for the Sony Bravia 7 II starts at $1,600 / AU$2,699 for the 50-inch variant, and goes as high as $9,000 / AU$12,999 for the 98-inch model.

MSRPs / RRPs for the whole range are listed below:

• 50-inch: $1,599 / AU$2,699
• 55-inch: $2,099 / N/A
• 65-inch: $2,599 / AU$3,999
• 75-inch: $3,099 / AU$5,499
• 85-inch: $3,999 / AU$7,499
• 98-inch: $8,999 / AU$12,999

The 65-inch review unit we have comes in at $2,600 / AU$3,999. Sony’s flagship Bravia 9 II costs $3,600 / AU$5,999, so if you buy the Bravia 7 II, you can save an extra $1,000 / AU$2,000. Stepping down means sacrificing a handful of dimming zones, the anti-glare features, and slightly more premium audio features — but these compromises aren’t so bad given the price difference.

That said, the 7 II is venturing close to OLED pricing territory. The LG C6 OLED currently sits at $2,700, while the LG B6 costs roughly $2,000. TCL’s RGB offering, the QM8L, has a price tag of $3,000 for the 75-inch model while the Hisense UR9 costs $2,000 for a 65-inch screen after the nearly unheard of $1,500 discount it received immediately after launch.

Sony Bravia 7 II review: Design and ports

The Sony Bravia 7 II immediately felt different to me the moment I took it out of the box, largely due to its redesigned center-facing stand. As part of the setup, you slot a clear glass-like sheet into the front of the stand. Sony calls this the “Mirage Stand.” This helps hide the cables that might be behind the TV. It also helps light and color pass through.

The assembly was easy, involving building out both sides of the base, and then simply sliding the entire TV into place and fastening it with screws. Compared to my experience with setting up other TVs, the setup feels remarkably seamless. I wish other manufacturers would embrace this approach. The trade-off is that, on the sides, the Bravia 7 II is still slightly thick, similar to other RGB TVs in this class.

The other issue besides its thickness is that Sony skimped out on ports: On the left side of the TV, there are four HDMI ports, just like last year’s model, but two of them are the older HDMI 2.0b standard. (HDMI 1 and 2 are HDMI 2.0b, while HDMI 3 and 4 are HDMI 2.1.)

Those HDMI ports are all in addition to the two USB ports, optical audio out, S-Center speaker in, Ethernet, RS-232C remote, IR in, and a spot for a coaxial cable.

Finally, around the back, the non-detachable power cable is on the right rear. In that same area, Sony also gives you a spot to clip that cable to better help manage wires. The TV can be wall-mounted using the VESA holes on the back panel, should you prefer that.

My biggest gripe with the 7 II’s design is that, for this price, it should have HDMI 2.1 ports standard. If you own multiple game consoles like I do, you’ll only be able to fully enjoy them at 120Hz on two of this TV's four ports. It’s not a deal breaker, but it is a small disappointment.

How we test

Our TV review process at Tom's Guide for TVs is rigorous, but standardized. In our New York City test lab, my lab assistant and I test every TV across SDR and HDR benchmarks using the industry standard 10% window.

To ensure we are seeing the director's true vision, we switch the TV over to Filmmaker Mode which is typically the most color-accurate setting available. We also disable any AI features, Eco Mode, and any intrusive ambient light sensors that could impact readings.

We use the Jeti spectraval 1501-HiRes spectroradiometer to profile our Klein K10-A colorimeter. Once profiled, this high-end hardware works in tandem with a Murideo 8K-SIX-G Metal pattern generator and a custom workflow in Portrait Displays Calman Ultimate software to map out the TV’s performance.

For gaming performance, we use a Leo Bodnar 4K Video Signal Lag Tester to measure exactly how responsive the TV really is. Once technical lab testing is done, we put the TV through subjective testing using a curated selection of films and shows. For more on this process, read our “How we test TVs” guide.

Sony Bravia 7 II review: Performance and test results

HDR performance is where the Bravia 7 II comes into its own league, with the peak brightness reaching 2,077 nits with our 10% test window. This is far ahead of what we've seen on OLED TVs like LG C6 and nearly double that of the original Bravia 7 model. However, it’s overshadowed by the Hisense UR9 and TCL QM8L.

When watching scenes in HDR from “The Batman” on our lab’s Blu-ray player, I immediately noticed the highlights from headlights and explosions against the shadows of the night. Yet despite all of this, the black in Batman’s suit and the Batmobile remained true.

Streaming “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Ghost War” on Amazon Prime, my initial impressions were corroborated: The TV rendered some really deep blacks and precisely managed highlights, ensuring that the riverside lamps in the introductory sequence showed absolutely no blooming against a black dark sky. This carried over into the film's climactic final battle, where even in dark night scenes, I could not spot any light bleed around the vibrant orange muzzle flashes or the crisp white LED signs on a building set against the dark night.

For SDR performance, Bravia TVs come with conservative brightness settings out of the box. As a result, SDR brightness measured just 100 nits in our lab testing for the TV’s best picture mode. This is significantly lower than competitors like the Hisense UR9, TCL QM8L, LG C6, and Samsung QN90. However, I do want to be clear this is no fault of the TV — Sony has a long standard of prioritizing accuracy and a true-to-Hollywood look over pure brightness in its Professional mode. Targeting 100 nits of brightness isn’t a bug to Sony. It’s a feature.

That said, your mileage will vary on how much you enjoy Professional mode. I watched a nature video of Norway on YouTube and the whites in the water lacked intensity and weren’t as bright as I hoped. Playing around with the various options in Sony’s new My Cinema presets in the settings menu optimized the SDR brightness to better suit my eyes.

Additional presets can optimize content from Netflix or Amazon Prime, but I found that switching to the standard Cinema Mode improved brightness better, pushing peaks closer to 750 nits. To be fair, Sony gives you full control and explains the various picture modes out of the box during setup, so it’s easy to change things around if you aren’t happy with the out-of-the-box settings.

So where does it falter? We measured a Delta-E of 4.79, which suggests the Bravia 7 II isn’t the strongest performer in color accuracy compared to the LG C6 or Samsung QN90F. (We reached out to Sony for clarification on why it’s higher than average and are still awaiting a response.)

Lab numbers don't always account for what the human eye can perceive through Sony's image processing. This means that sometimes a TV can still look good; personally, I felt that the TV delivered natural, balanced tones that you actually look for in real world-viewing. In SDR content like a NYC subway walkthrough on YouTube, faces still appeared lifelike.

The Bravia 7 II did not give the faces a cooler, washed-out look many other TVs in its class might produce. Similarly, in “Blade Runner 2049” on Blu-ray, the Las Vegas sequence kept true to the film’s orange hue without oversaturating natural skin tones.

Side viewing angles on this TV were impressive across all the content I watched, thanks to Sony’s X-wide Angle Pro technology. After moving my seat to both sides of the TV and rewatching the same scenes I mentioned earlier from “Blade Runner 2049,” “The Batman,” and “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Ghost War,” picture quality remained consistently strong. I didn’t notice any bleed or loss in color or brightness. This is an area where many non-OLED displays typically struggle, but the Bravia 7 II held up well.

Sony Bravia 7 II review: Gaming

Gaming performance on the Bravia 7 II is a big jump from the Bravia 7: We measured input lag at 10.4ms, a huge step up from the 17.1ms from the Bravia 7 — and more in line with what we’ve seen with other 2026 TVs.

I played Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight on the PlayStation 5 and had no issues. Controls felt tight and responsive during fast-paced fights where Batman and Robin took on street-level crime. There was almost no noticeable delay between my inputs and what I saw on the screen.

Since this is a Sony TV, there are added benefits when you pair it with a PS5: Auto HDR Tone Mapping lets you skip the HDR optimization you usually have to go through in most games.

But just be careful about which port you choose. If you connect to either HDMI 2.1 port on the TV, the Bravia 7 II will give you that sweet and smooth 120Hz refresh rate, support for variable refresh rate (VRR), and auto low-latency mode (ALLM). Pairing it with one of the two aforementioned HDMI 2.0 ports could result in the loss of some of this functionality.

Sony Bravia 7 II review: Sound

The built-in speakers on the Bravia 7 II are surprisingly pleasing. With a side-firing design, all the speakers are at ear level across the screen. This means dialogue and effects project clearly into the room rather than feeling trapped on the TV’s stand.

In action content like “The Batman” and “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Ghost War,” voices in films and shows were easy to follow even during more chaotic scenes. Rain, gunfire, and the orchestral score never broke the immersion that I experienced.

Interestingly, a step during the TVs setup process allows you to optimize the acoustics for viewing. Sit in front of the TV with the remote, and the TV will measure the sound levels in the room. This feature is great if you want to get the most out of the TV’s sound.

Sony Bravia 7 II review: Smart TV and remote

The remote isn’t the only part of the TV with a built-in microphone — there’s one built right into the TV. I’ve always found voice remotes awkward, having to hold the whole remote to my face just to speak to the TV, so this always-ready mic made searching and getting recommendations feel more natural and hands-free. And don’t worry, it can be quickly muted using a physical slider on the bottom left of the TV for added privacy.

Tying the whole system together is the Google TV smart platform whose interface remains clean and easy to navigate. No matter what I asked it, Google’s Gemini integration helped surface content across all my streaming apps in the more conversational, “ask a friend” style that I wish Siri on my Apple TV at home could do a better job with. It’s one of the best streaming TV platforms for a reason.

The remote design is largely unchanged from last year, still with its familiar plastic finish and blue-speckled detailing. Aside from swapping the arrangement of a few buttons, Sony has added a new favorites button that lets you quickly jump to a preferred streaming app and there’s also a handy remote-finder feature should you lose it. (Pressing the power button on the TV can trigger a buzzer on the remote if it gets lost.) This is a small — but genuinely useful — touch for those moments where your remote might get lost in the sofa.

Sony Bravia 7 II review: Verdict

Though it sits below the Bravia 9 II, the Sony Bravia 7 II still has solid HDR performance. It brings bright highlights, deep shadows, and impressively clean blacks with virtually no blooming thanks to its standout “True RGB” backlight. It also has a few upgrades from its predecessor — like the stand — that make it worth upgrading to if you own the original Bravia 7.

Its conservative SDR brightness can look dim in everyday viewing, however, and its higher-than-average pricing also pushes it close to more color-accurate OLED territory. Unless it’s Black Friday or Cyber Monday, you shouldn’t expect to see major discounts on it, either.

If the so-called “Sony Tax” is too steep for you, you might want to consider the often-on-sale LG C6 OLED or even last year’s C5 OLED, Tom’s Guide’s TV of the Year.

If you’re unfazed by the sticker price, the Bravia 7 II is a stand-out TV that I would recommend to folks who want an early look at an RGB TV’s benefits without shelling out for the Bravia 9 II.

Across the web, rumors are swirling about a brand-new Sony OLED TV dubbed the Bravia 6. It shouldn't come as a shock, considering the lack of an entry-level OLED in Sony's current Bravia lineup, and the Bravia 6 could very well be the LG C6 rival we've been waiting for.

Sony makes some of the best TVs on the market — and this could be its most exciting model yet. Here's what we know about it so far.

Sony Bravia 6: everything we know so far

I first came across Bravia 6 speculation via a report at FlatpanelsHD, who in turn cited High Def News on X (formerly Twitter). That post came as a result of a post on the AVS Forum message board.

Despite this game of telephone, the facts on the ground remain rather simple: Sony has registered the Bravia 6 namesake across several online databases.

On Sony's own website, Bravia 6 model numbers (seen below) are listed as being compatible with select wall-mounting brackets.

Interestingly, the Bravia 6 appears as though it'll be available in a similar size range as two of its rivals' most popular OLED TVs (the LG C6 and the Samsung S90H). This particular range of sizes would also indicate that the Bravia 6 will, at the very least, feature some WOLED-based panels, since we've yet to QD-OLED panels (manufactured by Samsung Display) in 48- and 83-inch sizes.

However, it's unclear whether all of the sizes in the Bravia 6 series would feature LG Display's standard WOLED panels, or just some of them.

Bear in mind that LG Display manufacturers different subtypes of WOLED panels, too. RGB Tandem WOLED panels are engineered for better brightness and color, and therefore tend to be attached to higher-end OLED TVs.

And then there's OLED SE, a new type of WOLED panel from LG Display that has already made its way into a more-affordable class of OLED TVs in 2027. The Bravia 6 could conceivably tap this OLED type, too.

Knowing what type of OLED panel the Bravia 6 uses could tell us more about its possible price range. Alternatively, knowing the Bravia 6's price range could reveal more about its panel tech. With neither piece in place, this is all very much up in the air.

Will the Bravia 6 go head to head with the LG C6?

This is the million-dollar question.

While LG and Samsung have offered annual, similarly structured OLED lineups with entry-level, mid-range and high-end options, Sony's Bravia OLED series have only a limited number of options.

For example, the Bravia 8 OLED that launched in 2024, spent much of its life living alongside the higher-end, quantum dot-equipped Sony A95L OLED.

In 2025, the Bravia 8's successor — the Bravia 8 II — incorporated quantum dots, elevating it closer to the A95L's higher-end stratum.

But, so far in 2026, Sony has yet to confirm the existence of a new OLED TV, and currently, all three of these higher-end Sony-branded OLEDs are sitting on shelves simultaneously.

For the Bravia 6 to compete with mid-range OLEDs like the LG C6 and the Samsung S90H, it wouldn't necessarily need to be Sony's mid-range model per se; it would only need to hover around the same price point as its rivals.

Hopefully Sony isn't backing away from OLED anytime soon. It was worrying that the brand was content to leave its current OLED lineup on shelves for another calendar year — but, if real, the Bravia 6 would prove that Sony still sees a place for OLED alongside its True RGB TVs like the Bravia 7 II and 9 II.

More from Tom's Guide

• I saw Sony's True RGB up close — and the downfall of OLED TVs might come sooner than expected
• TCL and Sony are joining forces to sell more TVs — but is that bad news for shoppers?
• We just tested the Bravia 7 II — here’s why I think it could be the Sony TV to buy in 2026

The world of soundbars has gotten a whole lot better over the past few years. The likes of the Sonos Beam Gen 2 have made it easier to get Dolby Atmos and a reasonably vibrant sound without having to spend thousands of dollars. Sony's take on this is the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6.

The Theatre Bar 6 is designed for those who want to cut out the fuss of improving their living room audio. Sure, it doesn't have fancy features like rear speakers, but it still comes with a wireless subwoofer for improved bass, and you can often find it for less than $600. That said, it's lacking some features that some of the best soundbars offer.

Is the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 worth buying, or should you look elsewhere for Atmos? I tested the Bravia Theater 6 Bar to find out.

Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 review: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? A compact Dolby Atmos soundbar that comes with a wireless subwoofer
• Who is it for? Folks who want to cut out the fuss of improving their living room audio.
• What does it cost? $699 / £449
• What do we like? Its sleek design and inclusion of a wireless subwoofer
• What don’t we like? The Bar 6 leaves a lot to be desired in the low end and it’s missing wireless features like AirPlay 2.

Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 review: Price and availability

Sony offers the Bravia Theatre Bar 6 at $699 or £449, which puts it squarely in mid-range territory — comfortably above the budget options, but also far below the high-end alternatives, including some of the options in Sony's lineup.

Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 review: Design

As a mid-range soundbar, the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 is pretty no-fuss in terms of design and setup. It’s a sleek black bar that measures 37.5 inches wide, 2.6 inches high, and 4.4 inches deep. That's bigger than some of the ultra-compact soundbar models out there, but also more compact than larger models like the Sonos Arc Ultra. It was able to fit between the legs of a 65-inch TV that I tested it with, but only just, and if your TV is smaller, or even if you have a model with narrower leg placement, you might need to move the soundbar in front of those legs instead of between them.

Sony actually includes a set of detachable feet that are designed to sit on the legs of some of its Bravia TVs, which is a nice touch for those in Sony's ecosystem.

On the top of the soundbar are small windows for the up-firing speakers, while the rest of the speakers' drivers fire out towards the front and sides. The front corners are rounded while the back corners are sharper, which is a nice design touch. On the back you'll find HDMI and optical ports, but that's it, apart from a power input. There’s only one HDMI port — so no HDMI passthrough.

The subwoofer offers a similar build quality and overall look to the soundbar, made from the same materials and in the same color. It is a little larger than the subwoofer that comes with some soundbars, but not overly so, measuring 8.31inches wide, 15.31 inches high, and 16.94 inches deep. You'll want to think about where you want to place it in your living room, though.

Last but not least is the remote, which is very simple. It's small and offers controls for power, input, volume, bass volume, night mode, and mute. If you connect your soundbar through HDMI eARC, you probably won't need to use the included remote all that much, as you'll be able to change volume using your TV's remote. But if you do prefer a separate remote for the soundbar, you'll get one, which is nice.

Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 review: Setup

Setting everything up is incredibly easy. All you do is plug the power in and connect the HDMI port to your TV's HDMI eARC port. If you're using a compatible Sony Bravia TV, it'll detect and connect to it right away, but even if not, when connected through HDMI eARC, your TV should know to output audio to the soundbar.

Setting up the subwoofer is very easy too. All you have to do is plug it in and the soundbar should automatically connect to it without you actually having to do anything.

Once you've connected the soundbar to your TV, you'll want to connect it to the app, and this is very easy as well. You don't even actually have to create an account if you don't want to, though doing so will give you additional controls and features. After you download the Sony Bravia Connect app, you'll be walked through connecting the soundbar to the app through Bluetooth, which took me under one minute, as the app can automatically detect the soundbar and initiate a connection.

Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 review: Connectivity and controls

One area where the Theatre Bar 6 doesn't quite match up to the competition is in connectivity. Of course, the main way to connect the soundbar is through HDMI eARC — which is how most soundbars connect to TVs these days.

Where it's lacking is in additional connectivity. There's no 3.5mm port for connecting something like a phone through a wired connection. Plus, if you want to connect your phone wirelessly, you're stuck with Bluetooth 5.3 and not a Wi-Fi-based standard like Apple's AirPlay 2 or Google Cast.

Wi-Fi-based connectivity is an area where budget soundbars often compromise, but there are plenty of options in this price range like the Sonos Beam Gen 2, which does have more advanced wireless connectivity for those who want to integrate their soundbar with a multi-room setup. In other words, if you're looking for a soundbar that will work with other speakers for whole-home audio, the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 probably isn't the soundbar for you.

The app in general is pretty bare bones, and that means that you won't get a ton of customization options. You will get controls for things like standby modes and DSEE, but you won't get an EQ that you can use to more finely tune the audio. That's a little disappointing.

Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 review: Performance

The Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 offers a 3.1.2 channel configuration, which includes three front-firing drivers coupled with two up-firing drivers and a wireless subwoofer for the low end. Those up-firing drivers allow it to support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which isn't necessarily a given in this price range, but also not uncommon.

I found the overall audio response to be quite good. The drivers and their placement made for an immersive sound overall, including for both music and movies. The soundstage was decently wide when listening to music, and while you can certainly get more immersion from systems with rear speakers, I found the height effect on offer by the Theatre Bar 6 to be better than expected for a mid-range soundbar. It helped make the sound effects in Avengers: Endgame more immersive than they otherwise would be, especially when it came to some of the higher-frequency effects during the final fight scene.

Now, to be clear, the height effect that you'll get on the Theatre Bar 6 isn't perfect — and it's not necessarily ultra-convincing when it comes to hearing specific elements in the mix, but you do at least get some immersion from the soundbar when watching movies in Dolby Atmos. In other words, while it definitely adds a sense of height to the mix, it doesn’t quite separate out those elements in a way that might allow you to pinpoint exactly what you’re hearing in those height channels – especially in dense mixes, like the aforementioned final scene in Avengers: Endgame.

The subwoofer definitely helps allow the system to produce deep frequencies compared to systems that don't come with a subwoofer, but I wouldn't say it's the most powerful subwoofer out there, despite its somewhat large size. It can get reasonably loud, but its frequency range is a little limited, meaning that it can sound a little muddy and overly boosted in the low mids and upper bass rather than extending deep into the bass spectrum. That’s especially true in already bass-heavy tracks, like Kendrick Lamar’s Loyalty, in which the bass somewhat overpowered other elements in the track.

Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 review: Verdict

The Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 is a well-built, decently compact soundbar with a solid audio response overall. It offers good spatial audio for the price, and it's nice that it comes with a subwoofer at all, when plenty of others at this price point don't. That said, the subwoofer leaves a lot to be desired in the low end, and the high frequencies aren't as crisp as I would have liked. On top of that, the soundbar is missing wireless features like AirPlay 2, limiting how much it can integrate with the rest of your speaker ecosystem.

Those things don't mean it's not worth consideration — it just depends what your priorities are. If you want a no-fuss soundbar and don't care much about getting something with Wi-Fi connectivity that can support, then the Bravia Theatre Bar 6 is actually a pretty compelling option. But, if you want more in the way of features, and a slightly better-rounded audio response, then something like the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is worth going for instead — especially as it allows you to add a subwoofer down the line anyway.

We've all been there. You're on a bus, train or other mode of public transportation, and you're consistently being disturbed by someone watching things on their phone — out loud, without using headphones or earbuds. When the 2026 FIFA World Cup starts in a couple of weeks, you'll see — hear, rather — people watching games out loud on their phones. Don't be that guy. No one likes that guy.

I, for one, know that I'll be using my phone to either catch up on games or watch them live, and there's an easy way to ensure you aren't disturbing anyone's peace, and that's by using a pair of the best headphones. I test headphones day in and day out, so for your convenience, I've shortlisted my favorite cans — all of which will arrive well in time for the first kick-off.

Whether you've got a budget of $100 or you're willing to spend nearly $500, there's a pair of headphones for everyone. The ones I've picked all feature highly effective ANC to make you feel immersed; clear vocals so that you can hear the commentary properly, and powerful bass so that you can feel the crowd rumbling and chanting in your chest.

Under $100

Under $200

Under $300

Under $400

Under $500

Under $600

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• My doctor banned me from earbuds so I got these Marshall headphones instead — and I’m surprised I didn’t do it sooner

Sony — maker of some of the best TVs in the world — just now unveiled its 2026 TV lineup, and while it’s later to the party than LG, Samsung, Hisense and TCL, it’s nevertheless making a grand entrance.

This week, the brand officially announced the Bravia 9 II and Bravia 7 II, a pair of follow-ups to the Bravia 9 and Bravia 7 Mini-LED TVs. The originals were among the best-performing Mini-LED TVs in their class, but their successors — which carry the mark two designation — come with Sony’s all-new, True RGB display technology.

Needless to say, the competitive stakes are high. Sony’s rivals have showcased their own spin on RGB LED TVs, too, and pricing on these models have been relatively high. But we were lucky enough to get our hands on the Bravia 7 II for testing, and after poring over the results, it could be my dark horse candidate for the best RGB LED TV for most people in 2026.

Sony Bravia 7 II test results

While we’re still cracking away at our full review, here’s a sneak-peek at how the Bravia 7 II managed in our test lab. For context, I’ve included the test results of both the Bravia 9 II (Sony’s latest flagship True RGB TV) as well as the Sony Bravia 9 (the brand’s previous Mini-LED flagship).

As far as HDR highlight brightness goes, the Bravia 7 II is just under what we measured on the Bravia 9 a few years ago. This is plenty bright for most viewing environments, and if Sony’s picture processing delivers a similar HDR presentation as the flagship Bravia 9, I’ll be thrilled.

HDR brightness is shaping up to be one of the primary distinctions between the Bravia 7 II and the all-new Bravia 9 II. If you’re in the market for a Sony-engineered set and you’re chasing the brightest possible picture, you’ll have to splash out on the Bravia 9 II.

However, when it comes to overall color volume, the Bravia 7 II is right in line with its souped-up, RGB LED-powered sibling. Given that color is the bread and butter of RGB LED technology, it’s heartening to learn that Sony’s entry-level RGB LED TV is cooking with a similar set of ingredients as the brand’s top-shelf model.

And, while I’ll reserve my full judgment for after I’ve had a chance to spend some time with these new TVs, when I look at these test results, I can’t help but see the Bravia 7 II as a slightly stripped-down version of the original Bravia 9. This set was (and still is) one of my favorite Mini-LED TVs ever made, and while the Bravia 7 II isn’t quite as bright, it gets pretty close — all while delivering punchier-looking color.

Sony Bravia 7 II vs Bravia 9 II: pricing and availability

So, let’s say that you decide to go with the Bravia 7 II rather than springing for the flagship-level Bravia 9 II. How much money, exactly, are you saving?

Of the two, the Bravia 7 II is the only one available in sizes below 65 inches. If you’re looking for a 50- or 55-inch TV, the Bravia 7 II is your sole option.

But if you’re choosing between the two at the 65-, 75- or 85-inch level, you stand to save between $1,000 and $2,500 by going with the Bravia 7 II. Make no mistake: The Bravia 7 II’s pricing is on par with the MSRP of mid-range OLED TVs (like the LG C6), but you’re saving a significant amount of cash by choosing the Bravia 7 II over the Bravia 9 II.

Compared to the original Bravia 9 (now a few years old), the Bravia 7 II is a bit pricier at launch. Right now, you can get the 65-inch Sony Bravia 9 for $2,099 at Best Buy. This is much more affordable than it was when it made its debut in 2024, but it’s $500 more than the Bravia 7 II, and the same price as the 55-inch Bravia 7 II.

Sony Bravia 7 II: outlook

As mentioned, we’re still hard at work on our full reviews of both the Bravia 7 II and the Bravia 9 II, so we’re still evaluating other aspects of these TVs’ performance. Until the dust settles, I’m hesitant to make any formal declarations about which TV is a better fit for various viewers.

That said, while the Bravia 9 II is shaping up to be the crown jewel of Sony’s 2026 TV lineup, I must admit that I am mighty excited to spend some quality time with the Bravia 7 II, too. Given Sony’s track record for delivering finely tuned, detail-oriented TVs with top-notch picture processing, the Bravia 7 II might prove to be the all-around best option for people who are curious about RGB LED technology, but who’d rather not shell out for a first-generation flagship.

Of course, Sony will be up against a number of entry-level RGB LED TVs that offer a similar compromise, including the Samsung R85H and the Hisense UR8. How it fares against those sets remains to be seen.

More from Tom's Guide

• I saw Sony's Bravia 9 II up close and it completely shattered my expectations — here’s why it’s the king of RGB TVs
• Samsung's new Micro RGB TV is finally here — but I'd rather buy this OLED instead
• 3 reasons why you shouldn't buy an RGB LED TV in 2026

In case you missed it, the other week Sony dropped its $649 1000X THE COLLEXION headphones. But don’t worry, I’ll spare you the shouty caps and just refer to them as “1000X The Collexion” or simply “1000X” from now on.

An upgrade to the still fairly recent Sony WH1000-XM6, the 1000X have stolen the XM6’s accolade of being Sony’s flagship over-ears. And naturally, that demands a premium in price. The 1000X will set you back $649. So, some dollars indeed.

Sony sent us a few pairs to try out, and I’ve gotta say, they’re fairly impressive. As it happens, though, when the 1000X landed on my desk, I had at hand my daily drivers — which I think are the Sony headphones’ closest competitors: the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2.

Naturally, then, I did a little back-to-back test to see which came out on top. Here’s what happened.

But first, a note on price

Now, some important context before we start: there’s a $150 delta between these two sets of cans, with the Px8 S2 costing $799 at Amazon. The Px8 S2 don’t drop by much in sales events either, although you can grab a set used (Like New) from Amazon for $686. The Sony 1000X The Collexion come in $150 cheaper at $649.

My point here is to see whether — if you can afford to drop big bucks into headphones to begin with — it’s worth stretching that extra bit further to the pricier cans (spoiler alert… I think it is). For the target demographic, I'd say it's reasonable to assume an extra $150 shouldn't be a huge issue.

Sound quality: a close-run thing

Admittedly, both of these headphones sound fantastic. I went into my back-to-back sound tests thinking the Px8 S2 would wipe the floor with the Sonys, but it wasn’t a total wash out. The 1000X are marketed by Sony as offering a much more refined and spacious sound than the WH1000-XM6 — which are tuned more in line with what the mass market wants: bass.

That said, I still find the 1000X a little too warm in their tuning — for my tastes anyway. Now, I actually enjoyed this in songs where bass isn’t the overriding element to begin with — Metallica’s Seek & Destroy, for example, where the added power on Lars’ kick drum complements the drive and energy of the song.

Listen along to my testing playlist on Qobuz using the widget below.

Elsewhere, I still found softer percussion, shimmering effects and vocals often felt a little buried by the 1000X bass, especially in low-heavy electronica like Burn Water’s super-subby, atmospheric Ikigai. At least via the Standard EQ preset. This wasn’t a huge problem — Sony’s app has a wide range of preset EQs and a custom EQ. I really liked the Clear EQ setting, which controlled the bass a little better, for my tastes at least. But I had to play around a fair bit with EQ on a regular basis (a lot of people like doing this, but I find it distracting).

By contrast, I haven’t really ever needed to play around with the Bowers & Wilkins EQ. These cans just sound so clean and neutral out of the box, with so much fidelity everywhere you listen. Bass is better controlled, with plenty of detail in the treble, giving really bassy songs like Ikigai much more clarity by allowing the soft, ethereal backing vocals and effects the space they need. There’s bags of mid-range definition, too, which added so much crunch to the distorted riffs on Seek & Destroy.

Of note is that the 1000X use 30mm dynamic drivers. Size isn’t everything, of course, but I noticed perceptible distortion on some of the louder sub booms in Ikigai. The Px8 S2 suffered no distortion in the same areas, likely thanks to the larger 40mm drivers.

Both headphones are rather spacious for closed backs, but the Px8 S2 definitely have the edge, sounding noticeably cleaner, brighter and more open than the more intimate-feeling 1000X. Chris Stapleton’s Death Row was pleasingly dynamic on the Bowers & Wilkins, the bluesy guitar licks and Chris’ reverby vocals getting a little closer to the acoustic-esque experience of listening to the track through my Audeze LCD5-S open backs (although, obviously, the LCD5-S are in a different league, space-wise).

To supposedly help with that, the 1000X have a 360 upmix mode. I was excited to try this out, but unfortunately found it borderline unlistenable. I mean, it sorta works: Mk.Gee’s über spatial Dream Police was a perfect candidate, and the extra reverb and echoing made for a live-recording-esque kinda effect. But the sound was incredibly compressed, with a bucket load of audible noise.

An especially noticeable difference between the two is the Px8 S2’s greater detail at low volumes. We discussed this in our Px8 S2 review, so it was on my radar, but I hadn’t grasped the full extent until listening to them in earnest. Even at around 30% volume, the B&Ws retain an incredibly impressive amount of low-end texture and high/mid clarity. By contrast, I had to keep the 1000X at around 70% for a similar sound. Better for your ears, better for battery life, and better for the long term health of the drivers I guess.

Flawless ANC on both

Both the 1000X and Px8 S2 have fantastic ANC. In fact, it’s very hard to draw a verdict here. They both do a better job than my $1,200 Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95. Using the 1000X in the office, they cut virtually everything, including road noise from the open window next to my desk.

All I can say is that the Px8 S2 ANC is probably the best I’ve tested. Perhaps the strongest test was on the flight home from my honeymoon a couple of weeks ago. The seat in front hosted a screaming toddler, flanked by two dismayed parents, open-mouthed between kicks to the face. On the opposing aisle sat the similarly-unparented and only-slightly-older brother, listening to some mindlessly cheerful kids TV at full blast through his iPad speakers. In the midst of the chaos, a flight attendant fought desperately through the ruckus to ensure seatbelts were on — somehow, if the parents’ entitled faces were anything to go by, this was all her fault.

Tiny arms flailed. Dried fruit snacks flew. Someone probably lost an incisor. A flight attendant questioned her life choices by flying Ryanair. Many passengers did the same. Nightmare fuel, usually. But not with the Px8 S2.

Back in the sixth circle of hell — or the row behind the chaos — my wife looked aghast at me laughing maniacally. ‘How can you laugh through this?’ was the subtext. It was the poetry of watching all that happen in mime only, soundtracked instead by the screaming cacophony of Songs For The Deaf’s opener. “You can’t even hear it!”

No matter how loud the hellspawn in front decided to be, nor how long through the flight it decided to be so, I was alright. The Px8 S2’s ANC would drown out everything. And it did.

Everyday comforts

A lot has been said online about the supreme comfort of the 1000X, and I agree… for the most part. They feel like a premium set of cans, and if I’d bought them, I wouldn’t feel shortchanged in the build quality department.

Again, though, the Bowers & Wilkins have the edge. They go beyond premium to feel luxurious. After around an hour of wearing the Sonys, my ears started to feel a little toasty. The Px8 S2 use a more breathable material, as I wore them for most of a seven-hour train journey through Norway with no issues whatsoever.

Both sets of cans are a pain in the butt to carry around, though, as they don’t fold and use bulky carry cases instead. The Sony’s case is markedly thinner at least, so that’s the set I’d pick if portability were my biggest concern. Which it isn’t.

Battery life is another win for the Px8 S2, which offer up to 30 hours. After my seven-hour Norwegian train journey, they’d dropped to 83%, which tallies to our full battery test when we reviewed them. Battery life on the 1000X is just 24 hours. Admittedly, this is only an issue if you’re travelling away from power for any elongated period of time — not really a thing nowadays with the ubiquity of portable power banks.

Frustrating connectivity

I touched on apps a little earlier when talking about EQ, but there’s more to be said on this. Sony’s app is great, don’t get me wrong, but it’s fundamental to the operation of the headphones, and that really grates on me. You seemingly can’t even connect to the 1000X without the companion app, which feels extremely restrictive — especially for a product you’ve paid $649 for.

When you do try to connect, the Sony companion app acts like a typical Sony companion app: janky as all hell. It took me 16 minutes to get the headphones to connect. 16 minutes. To hook up over Bluetooth.

I love that with the Px8 S2, the app is essentially optional. You don’t need to download it in order to get the headphones working, and the driver tuning and default EQ are so good out the box that I rarely, if ever, need to open the app for tweaks.

The Px8 S2 also have USB-C and 3.5mm connectivity, as opposed to only 3.5mm on the Sonys. That means, if you want to play wired from your phone with the 1000X, you’re stuck using the technically subpar phone DAC. Will it make a noticeable difference? Probably not. But I like knowing that I’m bypassing my smartphone DAC altogether and using the Px8 S2’s internal conversion over USB-C, getting the best I can out of the cans when using my phone.

Still, if you’re concerned, you could always invest in a portable DAC/amp, like the FiiO KA13 ($65). Or my go-to portable DAC, the iFi hipdac 3 ($199).

The final word

So which would I buy out of the two? If you hadn’t already guessed, it’s the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2. Look, the Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION are decent headphones. But when you start pricing cans in the ultra-premium range, you’re gonna have to start mixing it with the big boys. And the 1000X can’t quite mix it with the chief.

If you don’t have the extra $150, I doubt you’ll be disappointed by the 1000X. They look great, sound great, and feel great on your head. It’s just that the Px8 S2 do, well, just about everything better.

More from Tom's Guide

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• I tested Soundcore’s newest premium flagship earbuds — and they’re coming for the AirPods Pro 3’s crown
• I’m ditching my over-ear headphones for these Sony earbuds to beat the heat this summer — and they offer Bose-like sound for a lot less

This is the secret gadget that nobody knows you're wearing, but keeps you cool or warm based on your environment. The Reon Pocket Pro Plus has seriously changed the way I've been regulating my body temperature while at home, out and about, or at the office.

It offers cooling and warming settings, meaning that I've always been able to have my perfect temperature no matter the weather. I've always used handheld fans, but this year I'm going to rely on the Reon.

At the time of writing, the Reon Pocket Pro Plus isn't available in the U.S. market. That release is planned for Summer 2026, so it's not too long to wait, and you can sign up for launch news on Sony's website. It's currently available to purchase in the U.K. for £199 on Amazon.

How the Reon works

It's not a fan, and it's not a heater. So what is it?

Well, the Reon is unlike any thermo device I've used before. It is worn on your back under your clothes and works by using a stainless steel plate that sits at the top of your back to heat and cool the skin.

When the blood vessels under the skin detect this temperature change, it tricks your internal thermostat into thinking you're cooler or warmer than you are. And I was surprised at how quickly this works.

There's a tiny fan at the top of the device that pulls air through; this is connected to a vent that sticks out of the top of your shirt, but it's hardly noticeable. And if you have long hair like me, you can't see it at all. It's also completely silent.

Surprisingly comfortable

When I first checked out the design of the Reon, I had to admit, I was a little skeptical. I mean, this thing has arms that wrap around my neck to keep it in place, and I wasn't sure if that was going to be entirely comfortable for the day. But oh, how wrong I was.

Once I found the correct positioning for the arms, I felt totally secure. But that said, this isn't something you'd be able to wear while working out; it's just ideal for temperature control while walking or lounging around.

How it compares for the summer

So, as we head into the summer, how does the Reon hold up when compared to other cooling devices?

First of all, the Reon is discreet. It's not like a handheld fan where you need to be wafting it around your face to feel the effects. It's going to take on the heat like a silent assassin.

You also have a lot more control than when you use a handheld fan. Take the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool, for example. It's the hottest — or should I say coolest — fan on the market right now, but you can't make actual temperature adjustments. It just blows air at you for sweat to evaporate from your skin quicker. You can actually select the temperature you want with the Reon Pocket Pro Plus.

I'm excited to get using the Reon through the summer months and to find out more about the thermo device, including more information on the U.S. launch, you can read my full Reon Pocket Pro Plus review.

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Over a year ago, I ditched in-ear buds for over-ear headphones and didn't look back. You'll usually find me with my trusty Marshall Monitor III headphones around my neck, or sitting atop my head while I jam to my favorite tunes. While I love my headphones, I'm no stranger to itchy ears from sweating, and due to the very nature of over-ear cans, they can be tricky to wear for long periods of time during the summer.

The solution is a simple one, of course: get a pair of in-ear buds. In-ear buds don't sit around your ears, like over-ear headphones do, so they don't feel suffocating during the year's hottest months. And you don't need to spend big bucks to get a decent pair — which is why I'm opting for the Sony WF-C710N.

I tested the WF-C710N back in April 2025, and to date, they remain some of the best wireless earbuds I've ever tested. They're lightweight and ridiculously comfortable, and their see-through Glass Blue design is nothing short of delicious. Meaty bass, crisp treble, refined mids, and with highly effective ANC — these earbuds have got it all. And the best part? They're $170 cheaper than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2. It's time to upgrade your life for less with the WF-C710N.

Like you aren't even wearing them

Having tested and used many earbuds in my time, I believe that the true hallmark of a good pair is when you don't even realize they're in your ears. I should be able to go about my day without feeling earbuds digging into my ear canal. By that standard, then, the Sony WF-C710N are simply excellent.

Each earbud weighs just 0.18oz which is practically nothing. In my ears, they fit snugly and never once have they fallen out, even when I've been walking briskly or headbanging. There have been times where I've forgotten that the WF-C710N are in my ears, and that says everything you need to know about their comfort level.

In addition to that, the WF-C710N are sure to turn heads because they look stunning. Available in white, black and blue, I'd personally recommend the third option. You can see the wires and hardware on the see-through Glass Blue model, and this sets the earbuds apart from any others on the market right now.

They sound amazing

I would never recommend a pair of earbuds unless they sounded downright fantastic — yes, even if it's very comfortable and good-looking. The Sony WF-C710N have that covered, with their 5mm drivers delivering powerful bass and vibrant treble. Thanks to Sony's trademarked Digital Sound Enhancement Engine technology, sound is reproduced as close to the original recording as possible.

Through the WF-C710N, the distorted bass in 070 Shake's 'Elephant' and the reverberating bassline in Twenty One Pilots' 'No Chances' sound fantastic. It's powerful enough that you can you feel the music in your skull but not so booming that it overpowers the rest of the soundstage.

Treble is crisp but not overzealous, so you can clearly hear the high-pitched coins in Pink Floyd's 'Money' but that sound doesn't pierce through the soundscape or undermines the other instruments.

For a pair of in-ear buds, the WF-C710N provide an excellent, immersive listening experience. Combine that with the highly effective ANC that goes toe-to-toe with Bose, and you've got a winning formula. The ANC is so good that you can't hear the kettle boiling or the TV indoors, and the noise of a bus rattling while you're traveling is also muted. You're getting bang for your buck here.

In the summer, you need a pair of earbuds that enable your ears to breathe — and while headphones are great, they clamp down on your earlobes, leading to some discomfort, especially during heatwaves. Conversely, when it gets colder, over-ear cans are a great choice, because they can double as earmuffs and provide some warmth to your ears when temperatures drop.

What do you think? Do you swap between over-ear headphones (or on-ears) and in-ear buds depending on the weather? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

More from Tom's Guide

• Sony WF-C710N review
• Do you need to spend $449 on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen when you can get the new Marshall Milton ANC for $229? I tested both and I’m very surprised
• Not all on-ear headphones are uncomfortable: I’ve been using the new Marshall Milton ANC for 3 weeks and they’re ridiculously comfortable and offer outstanding sound too

The Reon Pocket Pro Plus is the most futuristic product I’ve tested yet (still waiting for that flying car). It’s essentially a personal air conditioning system that uses sensors, or your manual inputs, to regulate your body temperature. When worn, it sits at the top of your back and uses a stainless steel plate that warms and cools.

It has effective heating and cooling capabilities that are personally adjustable to you via an easy-to-use smartphone app, or with the on-board buttons — but these are a little hard to reach if you’re wearing the device on your back.

The decent battery life also means that it’s good for a full working day. So, to find out more about the device and see if it’s something you want to implement in your daily routine, keep reading my full Reon Pocket Pro Plus review.

Reon Pocket Pro Plus review: Specs

Reon Pocket Pro Plus review: Price & availability

The Reon Pocket Pro Plus is available to purchase in the U.K. for £199 from Amazon or directly from Sony’s online store. Unfortunately, it’s not available for purchase in the U.S. at the time of writing, but it is expected to become available in summer 2026 and will only be available for purchase directly from the Sony store. You can sign up for the mailing list to be notified of availability. And summer can’t come quickly enough, because this is an ideal cooling solution that can carry you right through and keep you warm in the winter.

Previous models of the Reon include the Reon Pocket 5, which is available for £149, and the Reon Pocket Pro for £199, but the Pocket Pro Plus comes with performance and comfort upgrades.

If you’re looking for something that’s going to keep you cool in the summer, you could also consider the Shark ChillPill for $149, which is a 3-in-1 cooling system that fits in your bag to go with you everywhere. Or alternatively, the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool ($99) is cute to hold with focused airflow and is actually pretty quiet.

And if you need to keep warm in the winter months, you’d need to look towards something like a space heater, or rechargeable hand warmers, like the Ocoopa UT4s ($26). But ultimately, there isn’t anything like the Reon Pocket Pro Plus on the market. It’s in a league of its own when it comes to personal temperature regulation, providing both heating and cooling in a single package.

Reon Pocket Pro Plus review: Design & comfort

The Reon Pocket Pro Plus looks a little like a Chinchou Pokémon. It has two antenna-like arms that come out of a long body and wrap around your neck, so the device sits securely on your back, running down your spine.

It measures 6.9 x 4.9 x 2.4 inches, so it doesn’t come too far down my back (I’m 5’4” for reference), and it’s slightly curved, so it follows the curvature from my neck to my back perfectly. After a while, I hardly noticed I was wearing it since it’s so lightweight at just 9.1 ounces. I was conscious about the arms that wrap around your neck at first, but much like the weight on my back, I got used to them quickly. It’s also worth noting that since the Reon sits on your back, you can’t wear it at night if you sleep on your back.

The back of the device, where it touches your skin, is made of stainless steel. I’d recommend letting it heat up for a second before using, as this can be freezing cold given the material, and a bit of a shock to the system.

This device is worn under your clothes, so inevitably, it gives a slight hump under whatever top you’re wearing. But honestly, it’s not that noticeable. There is an air vent that comes out of the top of your shirt slightly so the device has airflow, and if you’re wearing a tee with a higher collar, you can swap it out for a longer one, thanks to the included interchangeable vents.

The Reon also comes with a tag to sense the surrounding environment for Smart Mode. This tag has an included carabiner so you can attach it to your belt or bag. I kept mine attached to my bag. It wirelessly connects to the device and helps it regulate the temperature based on the environment, so you don’t need to change the settings manually.

Reon Pocket Pro Plus review: Controls & app

The controls on the body of the Reon Pocket Pro Plus are easy to use. On the left side, there’s a stop/start button, and the mode button sits just below it to switch between cooling and heating. On the right-hand side is a plus/minus button for increasing and decreasing temperature, and a button for activating Smart Mode. I found these controls very responsive during use, but a little tricky to reach when the device was on my neck.

So, if you want to make changes when you’re already wearing the device, rather than taking it off your neck to make adjustments, you simply use the mobile app to turn your phone into a remote control. I downloaded the Reon Pocket app from the iOS App Store, and it automatically connected to the device when I opened it.

Here, you can select warm or cool functions and then make adjustments to this temperature. I find this super useful as someone who works in an office with air conditioning that is always being adjusted by whoever walks past (I see you making those sneaky adjustments to the air). It means that I’ve been able to regulate my personal temperature easily.

Reon Pocket Pro Plus review: Performance

I’ve never used anything like the Reon Pocket Pro Plus before, but now, I’m not sure if I can use a regular handheld fan ever again. Most cooling fans make noise, although there are some silent ones on the market. And, as “handheld” suggests, need to be held in your hands, but the Reon ensures your hands are free at all times. The device operates between 41ºF and 104ºF (5ºC and 40ºC).

Cool

When using the Cool setting on the Reon manually, you can choose from five temperatures. This gave me a lot of control and I could make adjustments from the app, so if it got too cold, I could turn the temperature up accordingly.

In the Cool section of the app, you can also use Smart Cool. This gives a target temperature based on the selected mode. The modes include Low Cool, Slightly Low Cool, Medium (which is the recommended mode), Slightly High Cool, and High Cool. The app notes that the battery life lasts the longest in Low Cool mode and delivers the quickest in High Cool.

The response to changes in the settings was immediate, and there was no sound from the vent of the device. It kept me cool even when the heating was on in my house, and helped to regulate my entire body temperature despite just being at the top of my back. Obviously, everyone’s body is different when regulating temperature, but I could feel the temperature adjustments I was making instantly. This was a lot faster than using a handheld portable fan.

Warm

I was skeptical about the Warm mode but it worked perfectly. As someone who generally runs cold, I’m always eager for the heat to be turned up. But I can appreciate that not everybody has my nervous system’s affinity for the heat, so by using the Reon, I had my own personal central heating system.

Just like the Cool settings, you can use Smart Warm for heat. The smart mode setting works pretty much like a thermostat. You tell it the setting you want, and it works using the sensing tag that I talked about earlier to keep the temperature within range. This worked well, and I didn’t find myself reaching for my phone to change the heat or cooling settings in the app.

Again, like the cool system, the heat was instant. I was impressed by how quickly I felt the warmth throughout my body — it literally took a matter of seconds.

Reon Pocket Pro Plus review: Battery life

The Reon Pocket Pro Plus’ battery life depends heavily on the settings being used. The device is rated for 10 hours, but I found that the battery drained more quickly if I was using the heat settings compared to the cooling mode. And if you’re using either mode’s highest settings, it will drain faster.

10 hours of battery life should last you for the majority of your day. The average working day with the commute included is about 10.5 hours, so this amount of battery is enough to carry you through the hot subway and the chilly office air conditioning.

This is a decent amount of battery life for a personal cooling device, as the Shark ChillPill has nine and a half hours of battery at its highest setting, and the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool delivers up to six hours on the lowest setting.

Charging of the Reon takes 130 minutes to reach 90%, and getting to 100% takes a further 70 minutes — so just over three hours in total.

Reon Pocket Pro Plus review: Verdict

There’s nothing quite like the Reon Pocket Pro Plus on the market at the time of writing. It’s not a fan, and it’s not a heater. It’s more like a personalizable temperature regulatory device, and it’s given me effective heating and cooling results depending on my environment at the click of a button.

I like how fast the device responds to any changes I make within the user-friendly smartphone app. The Smart Cool and Smart Warm modes also make the device easy to use, as I didn’t need to go back and forth to constantly adjust the temperature while wearing it. The battery life is enough to get you through a full working day too, which I appreciate.

My only complaint would be that the buttons on the device itself are hard to use when you’re wearing it on your back. But since your phone can double as a remote, this is pretty much a non-issue.

I’m pretty sure we’re going to see everyone in big cities wearing these nifty devices before long — it’s way cooler than a flying car.

Sony's had something up its sleeve for weeks, and that something is finally here. Ever since paparazzi photos of an actor donning suspicious new headphones leaked, the audio world's been holding its breath — but hold your breath no more. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the XM line, the Japanese everything-brand is releasing its first uber-premium over-ear headphone: 1000X The ColleXion.

1000X The ColleXion is less aimed at the Bose QuietComfort (not Ultra) crowd and the JBL Tour One M3 Pro crowd, and more at the AirPods Max 2, Bowers and Wilkins Px8 S2 crowd. But how do these "premium" headphones actually compare to said competition?

To find out how 1000X The ColleXion really fares against the AirPods Max 2, I put the two flagship cans through a series of tests. Lock in, because it's about to move up a gear. Will the Sony 1000X The ColleXion or the AirPods Max 2 win?

Sony 1000X The ColleXion vs Apple AirPods Max 2: Specs compared

Sony 1000X The ColleXion vs Apple AirPods Max 2: Price

The Sony 1000X The ColleXion are an eye-watering $659 at their May 2026 launch, while the AirPods Max 2 launched in April 2026 for $549.

You're paying $110 extra for The ColleXion — and the AirPods Max 2 were already outrageously expensive. I'm not too sure what this extra $100 is getting you — sure, The ColleXion look nice and are much more premium than the WH-1000XM6, but still, $650 is a bit of a stretch.

Winner: AirPods Max 2

Sony 1000X The ColleXion vs Apple AirPods Max 2: Design

Right, so the AirPods Max 2 and the 1000X The ColleXion both serve a similar (unfortunate) purpose: being a fashion statement. Headphones should have one job — playing music — but Apple and Sony seem to be trying to make over-ears something you wear for the sole purpose of wearing them.

They have both kind of... succeeded, though? The AirPods Max 2 and ColleXion both look gorgeous, with aluminum and stainless steel finishes that scream premium. I suppose, if you're paying $550-$650 for headphones, you'd expect them to look good. Personally, I still think the AirPods Max 2 look better, but I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so it's fine if you disagree there.

The AirPods Max 2 have much more intuitive controls — no tapping randomly on the ear cups — but The ColleXion now have a Spatial Upmixer button, so you can cycle through music upmix and cinema upmix without the Sony Headphones app. I personally did not enjoy how the Spatial Upmixer made my music super tinny, so I never used this.

However, while the AirPods Max 2 win in terms of design and controls, The ColleXion win in terms of carry case. The AirPods Max 2 have no case worth talking about, but The ColleXion have a pretty awesome hard shell mini handbag case. Not only does this protect the headphones, it also looks pretty stylish. As a result, I'd say this round is a draw.

Winner: Draw.

Sony 1000X The ColleXion vs Apple AirPods Max 2: Sound quality

Both the 1000XX The ColleXion and the AirPods Max 2 sound divine. If you like expansive, melodic headphones capable of delicately balancing rich bass and subtle detail, you'll like both the Sony and Apple offerings.

To accurately compare the sound, I listened to both The ColleXion and the AirPods Max 2 as my daily drivers, playing every genre under the sun (including podcasts and YouTube videos). I listened to everything on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles.

'Neverender' by Justice & Tame Impala is an electronic track with an intense synth-heavy instrumental and infectious metallic percussion. Neither the ColleXion nor the AirPods Max 2 lost any detail, and the vocals had unbeatable clarity, even during heavier sections.

When I played a heavier rock track, 'RIDING WITH MY GIRLS' by Die Spitz, the ColleXion handled the crunchy bass and metal-tinged guitars well. I wanted a touch more depth to the percussion — the cymbals kind of faded into the background — but in general, the ColleXion performed well.

When I listened with the AirPods Max 2, the details were louder and pulled forward, including the cymbals and crunchy guitar effects. Neither headphones managed to make the bass sound particularly excellent, but the AirPods Max 2 created a livelier soundscape.

Of course, I also had to test with LDAC, Sony's proprietary hi-res Bluetooth codec. 'Parachute' by Hayley Williams is a voice-led guitar track with heavy, almost over-processed bass and emotive vocals. Williams' voice sounded particularly incredible with LDAC enabled.

With the AirPods Max 2, 'Parachute' sounded clear, detailed, and had vibrant bass. Williams' voice was, again, front and center, weaving confidently between the over-processed bass and percussion.

The AirPods Max 2 just beat The ColleXion here — the ColleXion handle higher frequencies really well, but the bass was a bit too unrefined.

Both the AirPods Max 2 and the Sony 1000X The ColleXion have wired playback — USB-C and 3.5mm aux, respectively — which provides similarly lossless performances. Naturally, the AirPods Max 2 sound best via Apple Music and USB-C, and the Sonys sound best via Qobuz and 3.5mm wired.

Overall, both headphones sound great, and I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed with either. The AirPods just take this round due to the more balanced bass response, though, as The ColleXion's bass can verge on unrefined in heavier genres.

Winner: Apple AirPods Max 2

Sony 1000X The ColleXion vs Apple AirPods Max 2: ANC

Both the AirPods Max 2 and The ColleXion have fantastic ANC, but the Sonys are the better performers here. During tests, I couldn't hear anything through the The ColleXion, not even high-frequency noises that often leak through even the strongest ANC, but I could hear things like clacking keyboards and chest-vibrating construction noises when listening to the AirPods Max 2.

For everyday use, though, you would get on just fine with either. I predominantly use my AirPods Max 2 and the ANC is everything I could need.

Winner: Sony 1000X The ColleXion

Sony 1000X The ColleXion vs Apple AirPods Max 2: Call quality

I've said it before (and I'm sure I'll say it again), but we've reached a point in the Bluetooth headphone life cycle where pretty much every single flagship over-ears will provide you crystal-clear sound.

I have only good things to say about the AirPods Max 2 and Sony 1000X The ColleXion's call quality. Both headphones have crystal-clear audio, no fuzziness or hissing in sibilant words. Both headphones reduce ambient noise wonderfully, so I have no reservations about recommending either headphones for calls in loud or quiet environments.

Winner: Draw.

Sony 1000X The ColleXion vs Apple AirPods Max 2: Battery

The battery life is my biggest qualm with the AirPods Max 2. I can't quite believe Apple released headphones with a 20-hour battery life in 2026, but here we are. While The ColleXion have a 24-hour battery, this still isn't particularly impressive, either.

It's better, don't get me wrong — I'll take everything I can get as long as it's better than the AirPods Max 2 — but when the Sony WH-1000XM6 have a 30-hour battery life for $200 cheaper, this is a huge miss from Sony.

Of course, the Sonys win by default, but really, there are no winners here.

Winner: Sony 1000X The ColleXion

Sony 1000X The ColleXion vs Apple AirPods Max 2: Verdict

Both the AirPods Max 2 and the Sony 1000X The ColleXion received 85 points, making this versus a draw. You won't be disappointed by either the AirPods Max 2 or The ColleXion.

It's near impossible to choose between these two headphones. Both ooze style, have premium sound quality, and an array of impressive features (although I disliked Sony's Spatial Upmixer, you might love it). Both earn their place as some of the most premium, best wireless headphones money can buy.

I would personally choose the Apple AirPods Max 2, but The ColleXion still have a lot going for them: Want lighter cans, don't mind a more unrefined bass, and love Sony's impeccable ANC? Go for the 1000X The ColleXion. If you value metal construction, vivacious sound, and don't mind a poorer battery life, the AirPods will treat you right.

Sony 1000X The ColleXion vs Apple AirPods Max 2: Ratings scorecard

Premium isn't new territory for Sony. The impressive build quality has made the 1000X series stand out from the crowd, becoming a top choice for listeners in the audio world. Today, the company announced a jump into the world of luxury audio with The 1000X ColleXion headphones.

The new headphones are Sony's take on refined luxury, with an uber sleek look that's totally eye-catching. The headphones were first leaked when Damson Idris, star of "F1: The Movie" was spotted wearing them out in public, and speculations have been swirling about the headphones' capabilities ever since.

They still have the distinct Sony headphone look and take inspiration from the WH-1000XM6 headphones, but it's clear that the quality has been upped here. But at what cost? Well, it's a big one, so hold onto your hats as we get into everything you need to know about the 1000X The ColleXion headphones launch.

How much do they cost?

As you can imagine, since these are luxury headphones, they come with a luxury price point. The new 1000X The Collection headphones are available to purchase for $649 /£550 / AU$999 from the Sony Online store.

In the U.S. and U.K., they're even pricier than the Apple AirPods Max 2, which cost $549 / £499, though in Australia, they're priced identically at AU$999.

Since Sony is a premium audio brand, their regular gear isn't exactly budget; its previous release, the WH-1000XM6 headphones, cost $399 / £379 / AU$649.

What do they look like?

The design of the new 1000X The ColleXion headphones clearly takes heavy inspiration from the WH-1000XM6 headphones, which were released last year. But there are some minor changes, which primarily include the materials used.

First, the headphones are available in Platinum or Black. This is a very basic color range, but we have previously seen Sony release more colors of headphones at a later date, so could it be something we see here? For example, the company is also launching a new Sandstone colorway for the WH-1000XM6 headphones today.

The headband of the new ColleXion headphones is metal with padding underneath. The earcups have also had a design change and are now covered in faux leather, but keep the same distinctive Sony shape. However, the earcup of the new headphones is a slimmer 40.1mm, compared to the XM6 earcups, which are 45.4mm.

Audio upgrades

The 1000X The ColleXion headphones see the introduction of DSEE Ultimate. Previously, only standard DSEE has been available in Sony's audio gear, and this technology rebuilds compressed music files. The Ultimate version uses AI technology to upscale the sampling rate (resolution) and bit depth (dynamic range), restoring any lost detail.

The ColleXion headphones also have Hi-Res wireless and LDAC audio codecs. The sound has also been optimized with Walkman technology, using more advanced internal components.

ColleXion has three modes of 360 Upmix for stereo music, cinema and gaming. This aims to give a more immersive experience across the listening modes.

General performance

1000X The ColleXion features 12 microphones (six on each earcup) and an Adaptive NC Optimizer seen in the WH-1000XM6 for noise cancelling that adapts to the environment around you. They also allow background music options with the Sound Connect app, which is one of my favorite features to use on the WF-1000XM6 earbuds.

With 24 hours of battery life with noise cancelling turned on and 32 hours with it turned off, the ColleXion headphones can support all-day listening. This is a significant reduction from what we see in the XM6 headphones, which support 30 hours with ANC and 40 hours with ANC turned off. But with that said, it's still more than enough to get you through the longest flights.

What do you think? Is it worth the upgrade to the premium model, or will you be sticking with the 1000X release from last year? Let us know in the comments.

Don't forget to check out our full Sony 1000X ColleXion review.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tested the highly anticipated Sony WF-1000XM6 — and they're 'everything I could possibly need'
• Apple AirPods Max 2 review: ‘Everything from its predecessor dialed up to 11’
• I tested the Sony WH-1000XM6 for three weeks — here’s my verdict

It's been quite an eventful few week for cameras. Insta360 launched a Go 3S Retro Bundle, we saw the GoPro Mission 1 lineup, and on Wednesday May 13th, Sony and Canon dropped a camera each — what a time to be alive! Sony and Canon's announcements came out of the blue, with teasers posted on their respective social channels either a week or just a few days prior to the launches.

Canon has expanded its V-series lineup of video-first cameras with the new EOS R6 V, while the Sony A7R VI succeeds the four-years-old A7R V. Sony's offering sounds like the ultimate hybrid that builds on its predecessor's success, while Canon's latest camera looks like it could be the best mirrorless camera for video.

Needless to say, I'm excited and thrilled. As someone who reviews cameras for a living and loves photographing her surroundings, I'm intrigued by both cameras. But is there one I'm excited about more than the other? Well, that's what we're here to find out.

A quick rundown of specs

Who are the Canon EOS R6 V and Sony A7R VI for?

Both the Canon EOS R6 V and the Sony A7R VI have different target audiences — but with some overlap. The A7R VI sets a new gold standard for high-resolution full frame cameras with its 66.8MP sensor and 30fps RAW burst capabilities, which make it great for all genres of photography, including wildlife, sports, and portrait. It also features 8K/30fps video so it sounds like a fantastic all-rounder.

Bolstering the A7R VI's position as a powerful hybrid camera is its OLED viewfinder with a 120fps refresh rate and 9.44M-dot resolution. You also get a 3.2-inch 4-axis LCD monitor with a 2.1M-dot resolution. Oh, and 8.5-stops of in-body image stabilization (IBIS) which means you can shoot at very slow shutter speeds and still walk away with a usable photo.

And what about the EOS R6 V? It's the second R-V body Canon has introduced, and it joins the excellent Canon EOS R50 V. The 'V' version of the EOS R6 is also the fourth EOS R6 body in existence — and as the 'V' suggests, it's a video-first take on Canon's hybrid camera. There's no viewfinder so you must rely on the camera's 3-inch vari-angle screen and its 1.62M-dot resolution. The EOS R6 V offers 7K/60fps RAW and 7K/30fps Open Gate video capabilities, both of which make it ideal for content creation.

In addition to that, you get 40fps continuous shooting which is... surprising, and something I wasn't really expecting in a video-first camera. While this camera sounds like it would be peerless for video, I'm sure it will be ideal for capturing photos of birds in flight too with its 32.5MP CMOS sensor and best-in-class Dual Pixel CMOS II autofocus system. And did I mention it packs up to 8.5-stops of IBIS, just like the A7R VI? Yep, it's almost got it all.

The one I'm most excited for (and why)

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't intrigued by the Canon EOS R6 V. It features the same 32.5MP sensor as the Canon EOS R6 Mark III. As a video-first iteration of the series, it packs an active cooling fan — which you'll most certainly need if you're shooting 7K/30fps Open Gate... or even 4K/60fps, really, especially outdoors.

With the EOS R6 Mark III and its predecessors, battery life while recording video was always a sticking point, but this time around, Canon's going for the "best battery life" crown. The company claims the EOS R6 V can record for two hours or more as long as the built-in fan is toggled on, the overheat limit is set to high, and the camera's on a tripod.

While all of this sounds great (and I'm looking forward to test the camera for my full review), the EOS R6 V isn't the one I'm most excited about — it's the Sony A7R VI. The A7R VI packs a newly developed 66.8MP sensor and enables you to shoot RAW photos at 30fps. This will certainly be a boon for wildlife photographers such as myself.

I loved the Sony A1 II when I tested it and it's the one camera I've thought about buying myself time and again. I captured some of my best photos on it, and being able to make extreme crops was a walk in the park thanks to the 50MP resolution. But 66.8MP sounds even better, and the sensor's stacked nature delivers faster readout speeds and minimizes rolling shutter distortion. Then you've got the new BIONZ XR2 processor for 30fps blackout-free bursts, so you don't lose track of your subject because of, well, black screens between shots.

The A7R VI also borrows Auto subject detection mode from the A1 II, so you don't need to manually change the subject you're photographing — handy for anyone who captures a variety of subject. I loved this on the A1 II as I photograph birds, animals and (occasionally) humans and I can't wait to see how it holds up on the A7R VI.

A new trick up its sleeve

In addition to all the goodies the Sony A7R VI offers, it also features a new battery pack: the 2,670mAh NP-SA100. Sony says that with this battery pack, the A7R VI is CIPA-rated for 600 shots with the viewfinder or 710 shots with the monitor. Its predecessor, the A7R V, is CIPA-rated for 440 shots, so Sony's made some strides.

CIPA testing is done under strict conditions and the number is often conservative, so it'll be interesting to see how the battery holds up in real-world use.

I think it's going to be interesting to see how both the A7R VI and the Canon EOS R6 V perform in practice as, in theory, they both sound great in their own right. I'm obviously not pitting both cameras against one another. That would be unfair as they have different target audiences (and there's quite a bit of a price difference). Needless to say, though, it's an exciting time for photographers and camera enthusiasts. I can't wait to get my hands on both cameras and put them through their paces!

More from Tom's Guide

• I tested the Sony A1 II for 2 weeks — and its autofocus results blew my mind
• I just tested the Canon EOS R5 Mark II to photograph wildlife — and this one feature has changed how I take photos forever
• ‘Few wildlife cameras come close to this’: why the OM System OM-1 Mark II is perfect for photographing birds in flight and other animals

Earlier this week, Sony revealed the latest addition to its extensive lineup of mirrorless cameras: the Sony A7R VI. It succeeds the four-year-old Sony A7R V, and on paper, it sounds like a dream. It packs a newly designed 66.8MP sensor, making it the highest resolution full-frame camera today. 30fps RAW burst, a next-gen processor, Auto subject detection, a high-res EVF and a 4-axis monitor — it's got it all.

But that doesn't mean the A7R V is going anywhere (for now). The A7R V is still one of the best mirrorless cameras you can buy today, and in light of its successor now being a reality, it's cheaper than ever. That's right, the A7R V body is currently $900 off at Adorama, making it a little more affordable at $3,298 (rather than its retail price of $4,198).

When we reviewed the A7R V, we awarded it a 4.5-star rating along with the coveted Editor's Choice Award — and for good reason, too. This camera's got everything you need to create stellar content, from high-res stills to cinematic videos. The A7R V packs a 61MP sensor that enables you to make extreme crops, and powerful autofocus as well as strong high dynamic range performance make it a winner.

The A7R V features up to 8-stops of in-body image stabilization (IBIS) which enables you to shoot at slow shutter speeds, making low-light photography a walk in the park. The colors it captures are nothing short of beautiful, and if you want a powerful hybrid camera, it can shoot 8K/30fps video too.

What makes the A7R V a sheer delight to use is its 0.64-inch Quad-XGA OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) with a resolution of 9.44M dots. That means it's bright, extremely sharp, and great for extensive focus checking of those highly detailed 61MP images. Ergonomics are peerless, thanks to the protruding sculpted grip and a body that's heavy enough that it feels sturdy but not too heavy that it feels unwieldy.

I'm very excited to get my hands on the new Sony A7R VI because it's got some drool-worthy specs — but so does the older A7R V. I personally don't believe everyone needs to get the latest camera as old cameras still take stunning photos, and the A7R V is one of them. The A7R V body is $900 off at Adorama right now which make it a steal, and as it's a limited time offer, I'd grab this deal with both hands and run.

More from Tom's Guide

• Sony A7R V review: The ultimate Sony hybrid
• I tested the Sony A1 II for 2 weeks — and its autofocus results blew my mind
• If I had to start my camera setup from scratch, I’d pick these 5 cameras and drones — here’s why

A PS5 is a serious investment. Meanwhile, your PS4 is starting to show its age.

Here's the thing: your PS4's real bottleneck is a spinning hard drive — the same technology you'd find in a budget laptop from a decade ago. Swap it for an SSD and load times drop dramatically. The drive costs less than a single new game and a screwdriver is the only tool you need.

The catch is you can't just yank one drive and slot in another. You'll need to back up your saves, reinstall the OS fresh on the new drive, then pull everything back. Two USB drives, about an hour, mild inconvenience. Here's exactly how.

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• Just got a PS5? Here's 7 settings to change first
• Here's how to stop your TV from turning on your Xbox or PS5
• Your PS5 Pro can boost image quality on PS4 games — here's how

Have you heard of "deinfluencing"? It's a popular social media trend where content creators advise their followers against buying overhyped or unnecessary products in a bid to combat excessive consumerism. My job, as a reviews writer, oftentimes feels like that.

I don't believe overconsumption is a good thing for us or the planet, and it's okay to not want the latest tech that everyone keeps talking about. See? Deinfluencing.

Today, I'm here to deinfluence you and tell you that you don't need two separate pairs of headphones for music and gaming. Historically, gaming headsets haven't been particularly great for audiophile listening because of how they're tuned, but I feel like that's changing — and leading the charge is the Sony Inzone H6 Air. It's one of the best gaming headsets as well as one of the best audiophile headphones I've ever tested, period.

I could go on all day about why the H6 Airs are wonderful gaming cans, but I want to talk about the audio quality instead, and tell you that this is the only set of cans you need. That's because the H6 Airs, unlike many other gaming-first headsets, have an ace up their sleeves: they use studio-grade drivers.

If you're an audiophile and a gamer, there is no better headset.

Open-backs > Everything else

The term "open-backs" is generally associated with regular, music-first headphones. Though Sony has a few open-back headphones under its belt, the Inzone H6 Air is the giant's first-ever open-back gaming headset (and it's nothing short of a triumph). Open-backs are usually more comfortable than closed-back headphones, such as the Fractal Design Scape gaming headset, or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra cans.

It's not that closed-back headphones are uncomfortable per se, all I'm saying is that open-backs are much airier and lighter than closed-backs. If you want a listening experience that's free of fatigue, open-backs are the way to go.

Rear air pressure buildup is extremely common on sealed cans because there's nowhere for the air to go (hence, the holes). The H6 Airs, like many open-backs, allow air to pass through the earcups (the holes, remember?), which reduces fatigue and eliminates sweat buildup, enabling you to wear the headphones for hours on end.

Also adding to their wearability is the fact that they weigh just 7.01oz — they're ridiculously lightweight. The suspended headband helps reduce pressure you’d otherwise feel on the top of their head. Finally, the H6 Air use light nylon ear cushions that nestle your ears like two clouds loosely hugging them.

I've tested the, extensively — for gaming and listening to music — and the longest I've gone wearing them has been nine hours straight. Whether you plan on gaming with them or listening to several albums back-to-back, the H6 Air has you covered.

Studio-grade drivers for audiophile sound

It's a good thing that Sony went wired with the H6 Air: Wired headphones are generally better than their wireless counterparts because there's no loss of information and compression occurring over Bluetooth. They transmit uncompressed audio data, leading to high-fidelity sound. Combine that with studio-grade drivers and you've got a winning formula — Sony does, at least.

The H6 Airs are fitted with 40mm Open-Back Dynamic which you'll also find in the Sony MDR-MV1 studio monitoring headphones. Naturally, as they're gaming cans, these drivers in the H6 Air have been re-tuned for gaming with enhanced bass. But they're still phenomenal for music.

You can read all about the gaming performance in the full review, so I'll discuss music quality instead. Hit play on the playlist below to listening along to my testing songs while you read my analysis.

The first thing I noticed while listening to ‘First Light’ by Lana Del Rey was the expansiveness of the H6 Air. It felt like I was standing in the middle of a crowded room at a gig, and my body was engulfed in the orchestral production.

The H6 Air feature spatial audio, and the headphones created a fantastic 3D effect in the 007 theme. Lana's "Will you? Will you?" whispers felt like they were positioned at different depths, and like they were swirling around my head instead of through detached left and right channels.

At the time of writing the review, I was obsessed with ‘Black Water’ by Poets of the Fall, and the song sounded the most beautiful it ever has through these headphones. The opening acoustic guitar carried startling clarity, with the zip of fingers sliding from note to note without sounding too harsh or distorted. The headphones never once got overwhelmed — whether that was when all the other instruments kicked in, or Marko Saaresto hit the highest note.

Despite being open-back, tight basslines are the H6 Air's specialty too. Airy high frequencies and accurate bass in 'No Chances' by Twenty One Pilots made me love the track even more. The bassline through the H6 Air reverberates in a way that you can feel it in your chest, and the subtle drop in notes felt apparent.

Lastly, 'Money' by Pink Floyd was another great testing track for the H6 Air, with the clinks of coins balancing well against the blues-based, driving riff played in an unusual 7/4 time signature.

One headset for two purposes

The Sony Inzone H6 Air have quickly become some of my favorite headphones, for gaming and listening to music. They're spacious and expansive, and they're extremely comfortable — perhaps the most comfortable over-ears I've tested so far. Being able to plug them into any device and console you own is a massive advantage, and the wired design means you're getting high-fidelity audio at all times.

You may still want a pair of wireless headphones for when you're traveling, and of course, open-backs doesn't boast the best active noise cancellation due to the limitations posed by their design. But if you want one pair of wired headphones for both gaming and careful listening, I can't think of a better option.

More from Tom's Guide

• The Sony Inzone H6 Air is a compelling case to ditch wireless cans and use open-backs for gaming — here’s my honest verdict
• I tested the JBL Go 5 vs JBL Go 4 budget Bluetooth speakers — and there’s a clear winner under $60
• Move over, Sonos — this Marshall soundbar is now my favorite for small spaces

One of my favorite things to do when I'm not working is to kick back and relax with my PlayStation 5 Slim. I was a little late to the PS5 party and only got my Slim back in December 2023 — my PS4 had run its course, sadly, and I desperately wanted to play Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty and Baldur's Gate 3. There's no better console for me, really.

I also love the Dualsense. I think the haptics and adaptive triggers are absolutely fantastic, and the controller doesn't give me much to complain about (except for that 5-hour battery life). As a reviews writer and lover of video games, I'm also very lucky that I get to test the best controllers — and when they're designed for the PS5, oh it's a glorious day.

Having tested and used my fair share of gamepads, I'd like to share my top six picks with you. Whether you're looking for a second controller for the player two in your life, or you want a Hall Effect one for competitive gaming, I've got you covered.

How do I choose the best PS5 controller for myself?

It's no secret that you're spoiled for choice when it comes to picking the best PS5 controller. But which type of controller is really right for you?

The first thing you need to consider is your budget. PS5 controllers aren't always cheap but if you're on a tight budget, you do have a few options. You could pick up a second Dualsense, or grab the Backbone One PlayStation Edition. The latter is primarily designed for mobile gaming using PS Remote Play, and it works seamlessly.

Next, think about the use case for the controller you're going to buy. Do you want a no-frills gamepad? The Dualsense Edge is a fantastic choice, and its metallic back buttons feel like a game-changer.

Are you a competitive player who wants peerless performance? There are two options here: the Razer Raiju V3 Pro and the Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded. Both pro-level controllers feature Hall Effect triggers, and each gamepad's triggers are adjustable, so you can opt for either clicky or long presses. The Raiju V3 Pro has an ace up its sleeve, and that's the TMR tech fitted into its thumbsticks for enhanced precision.

I use the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded as my second controller and it's excellent in every way, shape and form. Both the Raiju V3 Pro and the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded earned 4.5-stars, so I can personally vouch for them.

As you can see, there's no dearth of options. All of the six aforementioned controllers are outstanding in their own right. Regardless of the one you end up choosing, rest assured that you'll be getting bang for your buck.

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve finally found a PS5 controller that’s better than the DualSense — and no, it's not the DualSense Edge
• Steam Controller reviews are in: 'I can’t imagine playing my PC games with anything else'
• Razer just made my dream PS5 controller and it blows the DualSense Edge out of the water — but there's a catch

At the time of writing, open-back headphones designed specifically for gaming haven’t been around for that long, and Sony has just dipped its toe into these waters. The Sony Inzone H6 Air is nothing short of a triumph, and the brand’s first-ever gaming open-backs offer studio-grade sound quality in both gaming and for listening to music.

Sporting a lightweight build that’s ridiculously comfortable for long gaming sessions, the H6 Air is a 10/10 in the design department. It’s compatible with an array of consoles and devices, making it the only headset you’ll ever need. The 40mm drivers are from Sony’s studio monitoring headphones, tuned here for gaming rather than production, so you know you’re getting best-in-class sound quality — regardless of what you’re playing or listening to. With a decent mic to boot, the H6 Air has quickly become one of my favorite sets of cans.

Is this the best gaming headset for you? Read my full Sony Inzone H6 Air review to find out.

Sony Inzone H6 Air review: Specs

Sony Inzone H6 Air review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? Sony’s first-ever open-back gaming headphones for all-day play
• Who is it for? Anyone who wants a comfortable headset with studio-grade sound quality
• How much does it cost? The Sony Inzone H6 Air retails for $199 / £179
• What do we like? The comfortable design, multi-platform compatibility, studio-grade sound, and great mic performance
• What don’t we like? The underwhelming software

Sony Inzone H6 Air review: The ups

There’s so much to love about the Sony Inzone H6 Air, from its comfortable open-back design and multi-platform compatibility, to the studio-grade sound quality in video games and music.

Ridiculously comfortable for all-day play

Not only have I reviewed my fair share of gaming headsets, but I’ve extensively used them outside of a work capacity. Comfort level is the first thing I consider before buying (or while testing) a gaming headset, because there’s no point spending any amount of money on an uncomfortable set of cans. The Sony Inzone H6 Air is the most ridiculously comfortable gaming headset I’ve used so far.

The H6 Air bears striking resemblance to the Sony Inzone H9 II ($349) but the biggest difference is that the H6 Air is an open-back headset. As is the nature of open-back headphones, the H6 Air offers superior comfort by allowing air to pass through the earcups. On sealed headphones, like the Fractal Design Scape ($199) and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 ($199), rear air pressure buildup is common as there’s nowhere for the air to go. By opting for an open-back design, the H6 Air reduces fatigue and eliminates sweat buildup — and I can confirm that.

I’ve used the H6 Air extensively, and the longest I’ve worn it for has been a nine-hour gaming session. Not once did I feel like my ears were too hot or uncomfortable. Also aiding the H6 Air’s comfortable fit is its lightweight build. The headset weighs just 7.01oz (without cable and mic), making it much lighter than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 (11oz) and the Fractal Design Scape (12oz). The suspended headband helps reduce pressure you’d otherwise feel on the top of their head, while the light nylon ear cushions nestle your ears like two clouds loosely hugging them. No complaints from me in the design and comfort department.

One headset to rule them all

A big advantage of using a wired headset is that, more often than not, it’s compatible with more consoles and systems than a wireless headset is. The Sony Inzone H6 Air, like all Inzone gear these days, is theoretically PC-gaming-first. However, it comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack as well as a USB-C Audio Box, so it’s compatible with essentially every console you own.

This includes PC, macOS, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android smartphones. You’ll be able to use it with your Steam Deck and other handheld consoles too. I tested the headset with my PS5 Slim by plugging the 3.5mm jack into the DualSense controller, and it worked like a charm.

Exceptional studio-grade in-game sound

The Sony Inzone H6 Air is an exceptional headset offering detailed, crystal clear sound quality, regardless of the video game genre you’re playing. The headset utilizes 40mm Open-Back Dynamic drivers. You’ll also find these drivers in the Sony MDR-MV1 studio monitoring headphones, but for the H6 Air Sony has re-tuned them for gaming with enhanced bass, and they’ve given me nothing to complain about.

The H6 Air covers a frequency response range of 10Hz-20,000Hz, which is standard for the best gaming headsets, covering from the highest frequencies down to deep bass tones. I was able to hear every soft footstep and every loud explosion with the utmost clarity, and it made for an immersive gaming experience. To test the headset, I played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Cyberpunk 2077, and Control.

Cyberpunk 2077

In Cyberpunk 2077, I found infiltrating enemy bases stealthily a walk in the park as I could hear NPCs clearly behind closed doors. I could pinpoint their movements exactly, and I made a mental note of their patterns so that I could quietly open the door, take them out, and continue my approach.

This doesn’t mean the bass takes a backseat. Cyberpunk 2077 features a busy, techno soundtrack that often kicks in when you’re fighting an enemy or executing a stealthy takedown. I found the tonal separation to be fantastic, and the soundtrack never once sounded muddy. Even with the soundtrack at its peak, I could still hear enemies flanking me in close quarters combat, which helped me determine the direction of my attack.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

I also loved the emphasis on sharp audio cues in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which helped me time my parries perfectly in battles. The treble never sounded overzealous or like it cut through the rest of the soundscape. On the contrary, every aspect of the soundstage was perfectly balanced. I could still appreciate the bass-heavy orchestra soundtracking my battles, while appreciating the sound of my magical and physical attacks landing.

Roaming the vast open world in Expedition 33 was thoroughly enjoyable too. The gloomy yet vibrant atmosphere of the game was conveyed well through the H6 Air. The transition between my character walking on concrete and then scattered petals was loud and clear as I could hear the soft crunch of the petals.

Control

In a similar vein, the spooky atmosphere in Control was exaggerated by the H6 Air, and it truly felt like I was walking through a derelict, haunted building. Hissing noises in the hallways, droplets trickling down walls, alien-like NPCs croaking, and the protagonist Jesse Faden’s shallow breathing after she’d just sprinted down the hall, all added to my immersion.

There are plenty of dialogue-heavy cutscenes in Control, and I was able to hear every word spoken with clarity. Words never bled into one another, and I love that the headset made it feel like I was there, with the characters. For instance, in a cavern, the characters’ voices echoed well, but not too much so that it felt unpleasant or like I couldn’t understand what they were saying. If it’s lifelike audio you’re after, the H6 Air should be your port of call.

Superb for music listening, too

Because the Sony Inzone H6 Air utilizes studio-grade drivers found in monitoring headphones, I had to listen to music to test the headset’s caliber — and I was not disappointed. The opening acoustic guitar in ‘Black Water’ by Poets of the Fall had startling clarity, and I could hear the zip of fingers sliding from note to note. When the other instruments kicked in, the headset never got overwhelmed. Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound made the vocals feel like they were swirling around my head rather than playing left or right.

The H6 Air’s drivers produce tight, accurate bass and clear, airy high frequencies, and this was apparent when listening to ‘First Light’ by Lana Del Rey. Although the track doesn’t have a pounding bassline, it provides a subtle backbone to the song, and the bass through the H6 Air sounded nice and airy. This, in turn, made the orchestral crescendo feel grand rather than simply loud.

The headset creates a great 3D effect with the secondary vocals in ‘First Light’ too. The "Will you? Will you?" whispers felt like they were positioned at different depths, and Lana’s primary vocals had the centerstage here. This made the Bond theme feel more immersive and cinematic.

Great mic quality

The Sony Inzone H6 Air utilizes a detachable cardioid boom mic. A cardioid mic is like a unidirectional one, with a heart-shaped polar pattern that is most sensitive to sound at the front, and least sensitive at the back. This type of mic is great for gaming headsets, as it ensures that the words coming out of your mouth are the only ones that are heard. While it won’t replace the best microphones for streamers, it’s still decent for a headset.

To test the H6 Air’s mic, I first recorded myself with nothing else playing in the background. As you can hear in the clip above, my voice sounds loud and clear. It also sounds textured and true to what I sound like without a microphone. Unlike the similarly priced SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 and the Fractal Design Scape, my voice doesn’t sound tinny or unpleasant, and there’s no clipping either.

I then played an episode of Veep in the background, at approximately 50% volume on my phone, to see if the H6 Air isolated my voice. In the clip above, you can hear some background noise (i.e. characters’ voices) but it doesn’t particularly overpower my voice. The plosives are still clear and my words aren’t bleeding into one another. Again, better performance than the other two headsets previously mentioned.

Sony Inzone H6 Air review: The downs

The only real issue with the Sony Inzone H6 Air is that the companion software is a little underwhelming.

Underwhelming companion software

To customize the Sony Inzone H6 Air, you’ll need to download Inzone Hub on your Windows laptop. There’s no software available on macOS, Android or iOS, so you’ll be left feeling shortchanged if you don’t have a Windows laptop to hand. While Inzone Hub is easy to use, there isn’t much you can do in terms of customization on the H6 Air.

You’ll need to plug in the H6 Air using the included USB-C Audio Box to customize the headset, and once you’ve adjusted the settings, they’ll be saved to the Audio Box so that you can use them across consoles. Within Inzone Hub, you can customize the 10-band equalizer, adjust the sidetone, and enable spatial sound. There’s also the option to boost the bass or toggle an FPS profile, but I found the former to be overpowering and the latter didn’t really make much difference, as the H6 Air’s already tuned to give you an advantage in competitive gaming.

Wired cans in general don’t usually have companion apps, or when they do, there isn’t much there in terms of personalization. If you want extensive customization, you might want to consider a wireless headset, like the Fractal Design Scape or the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2.

A little on the pricey side

The Sony Inzone H6 Air is a capable and competent gaming headset, and one of the finest I’ve ever tested. It’s a little on the pricey side but before you start panicking, trust me, this headset is worth the premium. The H6 Air retails for $199 / £179 at Amazon and, at the time of writing, hasn’t received any major discounts yet (as it just came out in April 2026).

But a great thing about the H6 Air is that it doesn’t feel like an overpriced headset. A ridiculously comfortable and lightweight design, studio-grade sound quality and multi-platform compatibility make it worth paying full price for — unlike the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 which we thought was $25-$50 overpriced. And hey, the H6 Air is cheaper than the Asus ROG Kithara open-backs, which costs a whopping $299.

Sony Inzone H6 Air review: Verdict

“Are open-back headphones good for gaming?” The Sony Inzone H6 Air certainly proves they are. Sony’s first open-back gaming headset is simply outstanding. Packing 40mm studio-grade drivers, the headset delivers well-rounded, fine-tuned sound in video games and music. You feel like you’re the main character. If, like me, you love spending your weekend gaming away, you’ll be pleased to know that the H6 Air is extremely comfortable and fit for the job.

Would I change anything about the H6 Air? The software could certainly use a bit more oomph, but as I mentioned earlier, that isn’t a dealbreaker. If you want powerful sound quality with exceptional bass, treble and mids, there’s no reason to not get the H6 Air. This headset has quickly become one of the best products I’ve tested so far, and I’m now hesitant to go back to wireless cans.

Update (04/30): Sony has officially denied claims that it is implementing a 30-day timer for newly purchased digital games. It was previously claimed that keeping your console offline for more than 30 days would lock digital titles, preventing them from being played until you logged back into the PlayStation Network.

However, a Sony representative told Game File that this is not the case. Stating that, "a one-time online check is required after purchase to confirm the game’s license, after which no further check-ins are needed.”

So you don't need to worry that Sony is pulling an Xbox One-type verification system on gamers. Your digital games will remain playable regardless of how long your console goes without an internet connection.

Original story follows:

Remember back in 2013, when Microsoft announced that the Xbox One would need to connect to the internet every 24 hours, otherwise it would completely shut down? I sure as heck remember the outrage at the time, especially the controversial comments from then-Xbox CEO Don Mattrick that gamers who want an offline experience should just play the Xbox 360 — an already eight-year-old console at the time.

I bring this up because almost 13 years after Microsoft backtracked on those policies, furor has erupted online over the possibility that Sony may do something similar with the PS5 and PS4.

As reported by YouTube Channel Modded Warfare, the version 13:20 firmware update for the PS5 may have added some form of DRM to the console. While we haven't been able to verify this for ourselves, the video shows recent digital purchases with a 30-day timer attached — listed as a "Valid Period" in its information page.

This timer is likened to PS Plus games or rentals that were only intended to be playable for a set amount of time. It's been reported that if this timer expires, games will no longer be accessible offline until you reconnect to the PlayStation Network for validation. Apparently, it also doesn't matter if you have set a particular system as your primary console; the timer remains.

Wait, is this actually happening?

YouTuber Spawn Wave tested the DRM claims on their console and resorted to removing the console's CMOS battery to pull all power to the internal clock. Since the PS5 couldn't verify the time, it wasn't able to verify whether licenses for two newly-purchased digital games (Vampire Crawlers and Saint Slayer) were valid — locking the YouTuber out of both games.

Sony hasn't made any official announcement about this yet, which is only adding to the confusion. Various messages that are allegedly from PlayStation Support have shown up on social media, seemingly confirming that the new 30-day check is a new policy.

However, we have no way to verify these messages, and various online users seem to be getting conflicting information from the PlayStation Online Assistant — which is an AI chatbot. When I asked about this new license policy, it claimed that "digital games on PlayStation do not require a connection to PSN every 30 days to play."

So I'm still none the wiser about what's actually going on, and it further confirms my suspicion that AI chatbots are not the best source of information.

This is a horrible idea, but totally unsurprising

I will say this: It's ironic that Sony would introduce a policy like this, considering how much it mocked Microsoft for attempting something similar back in 2013. A 30-day timer, which operates on a game-by-game basis, isn't quite as extreme as what Microsoft proposed, but it's still a ridiculous thing to try and implement.

While we don't have any official explanation as to why, Modded Warfare thinks it's a way to clamp down on jailbroken consoles since they're usually kept offline to avoid bans. However, there's also the possibility that this is a bug, and only Sony will be able to clarify what's actually going on.

We've reached out to Sony and PlayStation for clarity and will update when we hear back.

More from Tom's Guide

• 56 Amazon Gaming Week PS5, Switch, Xbox video game deals actually worth buying
• Valve is 'hard at work' on Steam Deck 2, but Steam Machine and Steam Frame are held hostage by AI gold rush
• Saros is everything I wanted from a Returnal sequel — and it fixes its predecessor's biggest problems

Did you know Amazon Gaming Week has started? You'd be forgiven if you weren't aware, because quite honestly I had no idea up until this morning.

Amazon-themed discount weeks can often be underwhelming, especially when it's just a load of old stock the company is trying to offload before the next big Amazon Prime Day.

That said, I've scoured through Amazon Gaming Week and selected what I believe to be the best deals across Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox, so you can add a new game to your library just in time for the weekend.

Some of these games are physical releases while others are discounts on digital codes (check the product name to be sure). And while I've not played all of these games, I've checked reviews and made sure nothing on this list is filler.

If you want my personal recommendation, I suggest any of the Resident Evil games on PS5, Sonic X Shadow Generations on Nintendo Switch, or Doom: The Dark Ages on Xbox.

PS5 Games

Nintendo Switch games

Xbox Games

Five years ago, I labeled Returnal “the best reason to own a PS5 right now.” While subsequent console exclusives like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Astro Bot have bolstered the PS5 library further, Housemarque's heart-pounding rogue-lite remains one of the console’s finest games. If it’s spiritual sequel, Saros, had merely offered more of the same, it would have been an instant recommendation, but this follow-up goes further.

It retains all of Returnal’s best bits — the frenetic bullet-hell shooter gameplay, mysterious sci-fi world, intriguing, but cryptic, story and intimidating boss battles — but also makes a real effort to sand down rough edges. It’s not that Saros is any less demanding than Returnal, but this time, Housemarque wants to empower players to overcome its biggest challenges.

Saros offers a permanent upgrade system so even when you fall, you come back stronger. No obstacle feels insurmountable. Plus, it adds a more cinematic quality to its core narrative, while still giving lore-fantatics plenty of morsels to chew on. Oh, and it’s also a stunning PS5 Pro showcase, with the best use of the DualSense controller since… well, since Returnal.

Here’s why Saros is a PS5 exclusive that every console owner needs to play.

Saros: The Basics

• What is it? Saros is a third-person action rogue-lite, where you play a company soldier exploring a constantly-shifting alien world. Each run is different, with remixed levels and randomized weapons, upgrades and collectible items.
• Who is it for? Rogue-lite fans will definitely enjoy Saros, but it’s a must-play for anybody who loves fast-paced, demanding combat or has a passion for dark science fiction settings.
• What's the price? Saros costs $69 at Amazon. There’s also a Deluxe Edition for $79 on the PS Store with extra cosmetics.
• What other games has the developer made? Saros comes from developer Housemarque, who made its spiritual predecessor Returnal. The Finnish team also created numerous arcade-style twin-stick shooters like Dead Nation, Resogun and Nex Machina.
• What games is this similar to? Naturally, Saros most closely resembles Returnal. But it also takes several elements from popular action rogue-lite games such as Hades 2 and Dead Cells.

Carcosa calling

I definitely got a strong sense of déjà vu in my first few minutes playing Saros. Like Returnal, you’re thrown straight into the action with little context. Within moments, you’re staring down a boss who turns you to dust in a matter of seconds. Don’t worry, you’re supposed to lose.

After a quick revive, the stakes are set. You play as Arjun Devraj (voiced/modeled by “The Haunting of Hill House’s” Rahul Kohli), an enforcer for the Solatri corporation, dispatched to the mysterious planet of Carcosa to discover what happened to a group of colonists sent to the alien world, who disappeared shortly after landing and haven’t been heard from since.

The narrative unfolds primarily through ominous audio logs and text files, but you’re not alone in your quest this time. In between runs, you can catch up with your crew, which fleshes out Saros’ world and gives you insight into the psychological effects of the planet. It’s a smart way of dishing out story beats without taking the focus off Saro’s fast-paced combat.

I wish Saros’ audio logs weren’t randomized across its procedurally generated levels. After “beating” one biome in two runs, I found myself having to continually revisit it in the hopes of finding the remaining logs just so that I didn’t miss a scrap of story, which was unsatisfying.

Fighting for your life

Saros plays like a classic bullet-hell shooter, but with the production values cranked up several notches. To survive against its legions of multi-colored-projectile-spewing enemies, you’ll need to sprint, jump and dash constantly. Stay stationary for long, and you’re toast.

Added to the mix is a new bubble shield ability, which is an extremely powerful addition to your arsenal. It not only blocks incoming attacks, but can absorb projectiles, converting them into fuel for your formidable Power Weapon. Deciding the best time to pop your shield and when to use your dash to phase through projectiles is all part of Saros’ epic combat rhythm.

Rhythm is an apt word, as success in Saros often comes down to achieving a flow state. When you lock in, you’ll start anticipating enemy attacks before they land, and gracefully maneuver around the battlefield. One frustration is that the shield is tied to the same button as your melee attack. This results in a split-second delay when deploying it, which can lead to taking cheap, unavoidable hits as Arjun first throws a punch before activating his shield.

Like its predecessor, Saros is a rogue-lite. You set off from your home base into a series of randomised levels that mix-and-match static combat arenas and platforming sections. You might start to recognise certain sections after a run or two, but even a room you’ve visited numerous times can become a new challenge with the addition of fresh traps or enemies.

On each run, you’ll find different weapons, upgrade items and collectables. Ensuring that each trip into the depths of Carcosa feels unique. You can’t rely on a favorite weapon or an overpowered ability. Instead, you’ll need to make do with the hand you’re dealt. This necessitates strategizing on the fly. In one run, I had to face a tough boss with a shotgun. I was forced to get in my foe's face, rather than hang back, taking pot shots from the shadows, which is my default method.

Come back stronger

Where Saros differs most from Returnal is that death isn’t failure; it’s an opportunity to get stronger. Heck, death doesn’t even necessarily mean death. Early on, you can unlock an upgrade that gives you one instant revive per run, offering a second chance every time.

But if you do succumb to Carcosa’s many hostile threats, all hope isn’t lost. Back at your Passage base, you can spend currency collected on your last run to unlock permanent upgrades that range from basics like improving your armor to starting runs with key items.

Returnal’s comparative stinginess — players were stripped of basically all items/upgrades upon death, and forced to start a fresh run from near scratch — was a major pain point for some players. So, I suspect Saros taking cues from more accessible rogue-lites like Hades and Dead Cells will be some comfort. In Saros, even in defeat, there’s an element of victory, as the next time you head out in Carcosa, the odds are tipped a little more in your favor.

This isn’t to say Saros is an easy game, quite the opposite. If anything, Housemarque has ramped up the early game difficulty. The developers expect players to die frequently and be given plenty of opportunities to invest in upgrades to augment Arjun.

However, players craving Returnal’s more punishing nature aren’t neglected either. At the midpoint, you unlock the ability to make runs even harder by enabling a series of quite brutal modifiers (decreased damage, disabling your one-time revive, etc.). Or you can go the other way and switch on modifiers that make things easier, letting you customize your difficulty.

Another smart tweak is that the average run completion time has been dramatically reduced. In Returnal, a deep run could take north of 90 minutes. In Saros, runs will naturally conclude in around 20-30 minutes (Either through death or teleporting back to your base). This allows Saros to be enjoyed in more bite-sized chunks, and convinced me to keep playing just a little longer for “one more run” several times. Which would then quickly turn into three or four…

Pushing the PS5 Pro

Saros is one gorgeous-looking game. Of course, you don’t often get the chance to stop and drink in the impressive visuals, as there’s so much happening around you, but the mixture of neon projectiles, imposing enemy designs, and dark sci-fi locales is immediately striking.

More impressively, even when the screen explodes into a shower of sparks, multi-colored bullets and luminescent orbs, the 60 fps never drops. Even in the most intense battles, found in optional challenge areas crammed with a silly amount of enemies, I never noticed a hiccup. It’s a good thing, too. Saros is a game where a stable framerate is vital

Aside from just looking phenomenal, Saros also feels fantastic thanks to its novel use of the PS5 DualSense controller. The pad’s haptic feedback is used to great effect, but it’s the remarkably clever implementation of the adaptive triggers that once again steals the show.

Every weapon, from pistols to assault rifles, offers an alternative fire mode, and rather than being activated with a button press, you switch fire modes by pressing the left trigger down halfway. Press it down fully, and you’ll activate your Power Weapon. It was a great system in Returnal, and it’s no less exceptional here. You always feel in complete control of your weapons, without even needing to lift your finger off the trigger. I wish more games used it.

Saros review: Verdict

Saros is everything I wanted out of a follow-up to Returnal. It strikes the perfect balance between offering veteran players more of the frenetic bullet-hell gameplay that has become Housemarque’s signature style, while also being more approachable for new players.

The game is at its very best when you’re dashing across an enemy-filled arena, popping your shield at the perfect moment so you can power up your ultimate weapon and fire back an explosive rocket. And even in the (many) times I wasn’t quite quick enough to outrun the hellstorm of projectiles launched in my direction, my first instinct was always to dive back into the fray as quickly as possible, with a few new upgrades unlocked, to turn the tables.

The AirPods Max 2 just released at an eyewatering price tag of $549. Who has that kind of spare cash lying around right now? If you ask me, all you need from a pair of headphones is great sound quality and reliable battery life — and my favorite Sony headphones give you all that for less than $40.

Right now you can get the Sony WH-CH520 headphones for $38 at Amazon. They're an absolute steal with almost 50% off right now, and in my opinion, they're so good that you'll never need to spend up on AirPods again.

While more expensive headphones offer fancier features, for most people, the Sony WH-CH520 provide everything you need — and at an incredibly low price.

Right from the first wear, I was impressed by the sound quality of the Sony WH-CH520. They've been my go-to for just about everything I listen to — my favorite songs are enhanced with clearly defined, easy to hear bass and mid ranges, and they deliver deliciously crisp sound for movies. I always get clear audio both ways on voice and video calls, too.

I'm a touch control hater. I found the touch controls on my last pair of headphones to be a huge hassle because I couldn't ever brush my headphones without accidentally skipping songs or pausing my music. The Sony WH-CH520 have simple to use, precise button controls that just do what they're supposed to do, every time.

Last up, the Sony WH-CH520 have amazing battery life. You get up to 50 hours of playtime on a charge, which is incredible. I can use them for days on end and not even have to think about charging them.

So, what do you miss out on by opting for $38 headphones? The Sony WH-CH520 lack an active noise canceling feature. So, if you want to block outside distractions, you'll need to spend up — try the Jlab Jbuds Lux ANC. But if, like me, you're happy with great sound, great controls and great battery life, the Sony WH-CH20 are an incredibly good buy.

Muffled TV dialogue is so last year. In 2026, we're not going to resort to using subtitles or accepting that we can barely hear our TV shows and movies. And how are we going to do that? By getting one of the best soundbars, of course.

Soundbars are essential for home theater setups, even if all you watch is Netflix and YouTube. TV speakers are seriously so tinny and flat and make everything sound squashed. This isn't really fixable — the speakers trapped inside flatscreen TVs (99% of all modern TVs, your QLEDs, your OLEDs, your mini LEDs) are tiny because they have to be.

But there's a fix! You can upgrade your home theater sound with a soundbar. You don't even have to spend a ton of money — one of my go-to recommendations is the $99 Sony HT-S100F. If you've got money to spend, though, I've also got the multi-channel Samsung QS750F on this list.

My top soundbar recommendations

How do I choose the best soundbar for me?

Right, so the most important thing you need to consider is budget. How much money are you willing to spend on your soundbar? Around $100 will get you a decent 2-channel configuration like the Sony HT-S100F. I've not tested any Amazon-brand cheap soundbars so I can't vouch for them personally — but the Sony HT-S100F is fantastic for the price, with clear, audible dialogue and surprising height. You won't get floor-shaking bass, of course, but for $100, it's a great option.

If you've got money to spend, I'd recommend getting the Samsung QS750F. This 5.1.2 soundbar's subwoofer and rears make it one of the best-value soundbars on the market. Although it's $899 at full price (discounted to $799 right now), I've tested $600 that are just that — a soundbar. No sub, no rears. The QS750F is basically a cheat code to movie theater sound for less.

Next, you want to look at space. How big is your TV? How big is your TV stand?

If you have a 43-inch TV, you don't want a large soundbar like the Polk Audio Signa S4 ($449, 41 inches long). But if you have a 65-inch TV, you do want a large soundbar like the Polk Audio Signa S4.

A small soundbar like the Bose Smart Soundbar ($549, 27 inches long) or the Samsung B650 ($397, 33 inches long) will look weird with a 75 incher, but it looks great with my 55-inch Panasonic MZ1500.

Lastly, you want to think about performance. Unfortunately, budget and space will mostly decide this for you. If you want a serious home theater setup with cinematic Dolby Atmos and room-configuration technology, well, you're not going to get that for under $800 — and that's cheap.

The most immersive soundbar system I've ever tested is the JBL Bar 1300X ($1,799), but it's just too expensive for most people.

For most people, I'd recommend the Samsung Q600F, a gorgeous midrange soundbar that combines crystal-clear dialogue, powerful bass, and immersion without breaking the bank (but you miss out on smart features like Wi-Fi playback).

Which soundbar tickles your fancy? Let me know in the comments!

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Last night, April 16th, Sony announced the winners and shortlist of its 2026 World Photography Awards. Now into their 19th year, Sony’s World Photography Awards (WPA) celebrate and award existing and new photographic talent, giving its winners an international platform to showcase their work (not to mention cash prizes and a sack of Sony imaging gear).

This year, the WPAs received over 430,000 entrants from 200 countries across the world, making this one of (if not the) largest photography competition around.

The flagship award — the equivalent of ‘Best Actor / Actress’ at the Oscars, if you like — is Photographer of the Year. This year is has been scooped up by Citlali Fabián, a London-based visual artist originally from the Yalalteca Indigenous community, Mexico, whose work explores the intersections of identity with territory, migration and community.

The 2026 ‘Outstanding Contribution to Photography’ award — a lifetime achievement kinda deal — goes to legendary American street/documentary photographer Joel Meyerowitz. A pioneer of color photography, Joel was at Ground Zero to document the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11 — a visceral and haunting collection that simultaneously highlights the heroism and humanistic elements of the tragedy and cleanup.

The WPAs award a further 10 professional categories, though, each with a winner and two runners up. Not only that, but Sony and the WPA also foster the next generation of photographic talent through student and youth categories, plus an open category for anyone to enter.

I've included some of my favorite shots from this year's finalists and winners, but a full gallery of all the competition images are all visible on the World Photography Awards website.

London exhibition

If, like me, you’re lucky enough to be in London in mid-April, you can also check out the World Photography Awards exhibition, which runs from April 17 to May 4 2026 at Somerset House, London (tickets available via the link).

The exhibition will showcase over 300 entries from this year’s awards. I was given early access to the exhibition to see the entries, and it’s a fantastic showcase. The talent on display is phenomenal. My favorite series is by Seungho Kim, winner of the Perspectives category. His work documents his and his wife's lives after having an unexpected child, with a particular focus on how the family dog adjusted, and finally made friends with the baby.

I’ve interviewed many photographers in my time as a journalist, seen many exhibitions, and obviously gazed intently at many photos. I know full well that many photographers shoot deliberately with a final printed product in mind. There’s nothing like looking at an image in large printed format, in precisely the way the artist wanted it to be seen. It always beats digital in my book.

No Sony? No problem

If you’re inspired by this year’s awards — either the online gallery or physical exhibition — you can get involved in 2027’s competition, which will open on June 1 2026.

Importantly, while Sony hosts the WPA, there’s absolutely no stipulation for entries to be shot on a Sony camera. You don’t need to be rocking the latest, greatest Sony A7V to enter next year’s competition — maybe you’re rocking a humble Canon EOS R100 or, like me, a several-year-old Fujifilm X-E4. In fact, I talked to lots of the entrants in this year's awards, and even many of the pros shoot with other brands. Will Burrard-Lucas, winner of the Wildlife & Nature category, shoots on whatever old DSLRs he can find to jerry rig into traps or mobile recording devices (he literally straps cameras to RC cars to get close up wide-angle photos of hyenas!)

And that’s cool: it means you don’t need expensive gear to take part in the event. Remember, great imagery has more to do with the photographer than the camera.

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• I spent a day shooting on the new Sony A7 V — here are my first impressions (spoiler alert: it's great)
• I swapped out my modern mirrorless for this 20-year-old DSLR — and I’ve never been more creative

Sony's next-generation PlayStation consoles could come in a unique lineup featuring three models: a PS6 S (or Lite), a PS6 handheld, and a full PlayStation 6. The S and handheld models would feature the AMD-built Canis chipset, while the full model would have the more powerful Orion CPU.

The latest leak comes from the YouTube channel Moore's Law is Dead in a video where the host attempted to lay out pricing for Sony's future consoles.

The relevant portion starts about 15 minutes in, but here's the cogent bit for our purposes.

The price range for Sony's new lineup is $350 to $1,000. Again, this is an estimation on MLID's part based on component costs and potential tariffs. The price ranges below are based on estimates that factor in a 30% tariff protection and those that do not. MLID also notes that it's based on current RAM prices, which could change by the time Sony actually starts purchasing RAM.

• 'PS6 S' - $349 - $549
• PS6 handheld - $499 - $699
• PS6 full console - $699 - $999

He goes on to say that the Orion-based console could have two versions, similar to the PS5 at launch, with a disc-based variant and a digital-only one. Though I lean toward Sony finally ditching the discs in favor of a disc-drive add-on similar to what it offers now.

It'll be interesting to see how Sony prices the next generation since the current global situation has forced companies to raise prices. The base PS5 starts at $599 for the digital edition, while the Pro model is $899. Every single PS5 now costs hundreds more than it did at launch, something that rarely happens as a console ages.

What's coming?

Based on previous leaks regarding the Canis and Orion chips, the Canis chip should be more powerful than the Xbox Series S and the Nintendo Switch 2 but slightly less capable than the base PS5.

To date, Sony has been pretty mum on its plans for the next generation. Last fall, Sony's Mark Cerny confirmed that the PS6 was a few years away in a discussion with AMD's Jack Huynh.

They did say that the two companies are refining ray and path tracing to reduce the stress on the GPU. It could also have lower power consumption. The PS5 is a behemoth, and it would be nice if the next-gen could shrink back down a bit.

Cerny did seem to indicate that the PS6 chips could open things up for a handheld.

"There's a multitude of benefits for this, including lower power consumption, higher fidelity assets, and perhaps most importantly, the synergies that Universal Compression has with Neural Arrays and Radiance Cores as we work together to deliver the best possible experiences to gamers."

Current rumors suggest that the PlayStation 6 will debut in 2027, possibly 2028. Some of this may depend on RAMageddon, but 2027 has been the most consistent release window that we've seen.

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• I tested the AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6 — here's the winner
• I saw Sony's True RGB up close — and the downfall of OLED TVs might come sooner than expected
• TCL and Sony are joining forces to sell more TVs — but is that bad news for shoppers?

The AirPods Max 2 may look identical to the previous model, but it's what inside that counts. I gave them a fantastic 4.5-star rating in my review, and I love the improved sound, ANC and upgraded features like Live Translation. In my opinion, the AirPods Max 2 are some of the best headphones you can buy.

But that got me thinking... so are the Sony WH-1000XM6, which came out last year and received a solid 4-star rating from us. So how do the AirPods Max 2 and the WH-1000XM6 compare? How do both these flagship models sound? How do they feel? How's the ANC? I tested the Apple AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6 side by side to declare a winner.

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: Specs

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: Price

The AirPods Max 2 are the same price as their predecessor: $549/£499. This makes them more expensive than most other flagship over-ears.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 were $459/£399 at launch, and you can get them from around $449 (Sony) to $458 (Amazon) now. Overall, you're saving $90/£100, which is a considerable amount of money.

Winner: Sony WH-1000XM6

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: Design

I'm not sure there are any tech brands that can beat Apple on the design front. Sony gear looks and feels good, don't get me wrong, but Apple always blows the competition out of the water.

The AirPods Max 2 are heavy, yes, which is my biggest complaint about the new cans. At a hefty 13.6 ounces, the Max 2 aren't about to let you forget you're wearing them. The mesh headband alleviates as much of the pressure as physically possible, but you cannot work out wearing these cans. They're for running errands rather than 5Ks.

However, the Max 2 look utterly divine. The metal ear cups are premium in every way, and the fabric cushions are super soft on my skin. I also have to hand it to Apple for mastering easy, intuitive controls — the 'Digital Crown' and ANC button on the right ear cup are both super easy to use.

Comparatively, the XM6 look a little lackluster. I tested the white/beige colorway, which is nice and unobtrusive, but isn't exactly winning any design awards. The ear cups are plasticky, which, of course, is how Sony managed to keep the weight down to a frankly delicate 8.8. ounces, but risks the headphones looking cheap.

The headband is padded, but still presses down on my head after a few hours of listening. So, while the XM6 are half the weight of the AirPods Max 2, you only really notice this when working out or while walking. If you're sitting at your desk or just relaxing at home, the weight difference is mostly unnoticeable.

The touch controls on the WH-1000XM6 are good. Even so, I wouldn't say Sony's controls are Apple-beating — in the search for a discreet, smooth design, one has to memorize complex hand magic to skip songs or pause.

Bring back the buttons! I promise, we won't get mad. So, while I've taken points away from Apple due to the Max 2's heft, the overall appearance and easy touch controls mean that Apple wins this round.

Winner: AirPods Max 2

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: Features and connectivity

For your $549, Apple has stuffed the AirPods Max 2 full of AirPods-Pro-esque smart tech features, such as Live Translation and more Siri integration. Whether or not you use these is up to you — I personally don't have need for AI in my headphones, but if you gravitate towards these features, great!

The XM6 have tons of useful features, too. You can activate adaptive sound control, which uses your location to switch between ANC modes — so you can turn on ANC when you reach the train station for your commute, or turn off when you arrive home. This is pretty cool.

You can also cycle through listening modes: standard, background music (mimics background music in a cafe, for example), and cinema, which upscales content to mimic Dolby Atmos.

Apple offers this with Personalized Spatial Audio, but you need to be watching a Dolby Atmos-encoded video to take advantage of it.

Of course, if you're an Apple user, you benefit from seamless integration with your AirPods Max 2. Once the headphones are linked to your Apple ID, they switch seamlessly between all your devices.

On the other hand, the Sonys require you to download the Sony Connect app to manually control dual pairing — and even then, you can only connect up to two devices simultaneously. You can, of course, add more devices in the app, but you can't connect to more than two at once.

If you've got more than two Apple products — an iPhone, MacBook, and iPad, for example — it makes more sense to get the AirPods Max 2. However, Android and Apple owners would probably get more seamless connectivity out of the Sony.

The AirPods Max 2 and WH-1000XM6 both run on Bluetooth 5.3, which is disappointing to see on brand-new/relatively new flagship headphones. Samsung launched its Galaxy Buds 4 series in February 2026 with Bluetooth 6.1, which both future-proofs and improves reliability and range.

Both the XM6 and Max 2 have great features, but I'm giving this win to the Apple as its features are more versatile.

Winner: AirPods Max 2

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: Sound quality

The AirPods Max 2 and Sony WH-1000XM6 are tuned similarly: both have a wide, expansive, detailed soundscape, with gentle-yet-confident bass, and a faithful balance across the entire frequency range. If you're used to a bass-heavy signature, for example Bose headphones, you may be put off by these.

However, I love this sound signature. I really appreciate being able to hear nuance and delicate tightrope-walking across the frequency range.

I listened to 'True Believer' by Hayley Williams, which is a piano-led track with layers of discordant keyboard riffs, choir background vocals, and powerful bass drum. The song sounded utterly divine through the XM6s, complete clarity in every frequency. I could hear all of the choral sections and delicate bass notes.

In the AirPods Max 2, the choir was handled just as delicately, with the strings driving the back-end of the soundstage being just as insistent.

I found the Sonys to be a touch narrower, with a louder bass section, but this will depend on your preference. Do you want the most expansive soundscape, or do you want a heavier bass response?

Next, I tested out both cans with an electronic track, 'If U Want my Heart' by Kettama. This song has a modulated vocal section with effusive synths and siren-synth sound effects. The XM6s handled this rich soundscape well, with depth in the vocals and instrumental.

However, the AirPods Max 2 were much more expansive, and the bass was even a little more pronounced. The vocals felt as if they were swarming around my head rather than playing into my ears.

Finally, I went for a softer, hazier track: 'Better Distractions' by Faye Webster. This bluegrass-meets-alt song is built from a lazy percussion section and wobbly slide guitar, with pianos twinkling in the right ear. This sound was immersive and wide through the AirPods Max 2, and I felt like I was in a sunsoaked bar in the Deep South.

Comparatively, the XM6 sounded much narrower again — I was longing for the same amount of width and immersion. This isn't to say the XM6 sounded bad, but different. I much prefer an expansive soundscape, so the AirPods Max 2 win this round for me.

Winner: AirPods Max 2.

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: ANC

Both the AirPods Max 2 and the Sony WH-1000XM6 have excellent ANC. They offer the following modes: ANC on, transparency/ambient, off.

However, Bose is still the undefeated champion of ANC. The QuietComfort Ultra boast the best ANC I've ever experienced. When I was walking around the city with the Bose cans, I was effectively in my own universe. Traffic? Nothing. Sirens? No. Passers-by? Silent.

No, Apple and Sony haven't quite reached Bose's level, but that's not to say the ANC on these models is anything to sneer at.

When I was wearing the XM6 around the city, I was in near-silent conditions the entire time. The XM6 can definitely hold their own.

While the ANC on the AirPods Max 2 is considerably better than the originals, the XM6 still win here. I couldn't hear low-frequency sounds like motorbikes or buses, but some high-frequency tones still leaked through.

Winner: Sony WH-1000XM6

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: Call quality

We've reached a point in flagship headphones where nearly all have guaranteed great call quality. You won't be disappointed by either the AirPods Max 2 or the WH-1000XM6.

I really like how the XM6 make your voice audible during calls, so you can monitor your speaking volume. I wish more headphones would do this! To test the call quality, I called my boyfriend, who reported that my voice was perfectly clear.

Again, the AirPods Max 2 are better than the Max 1 — the new over-ears sound like AirPods Pro 2/3 on calls — but the XM6 still takes this crown in this round.

Winner: Sony WH-1000XM6

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: Battery life

The XM6 go for 40 hours on a single charge, 30 hours with ANC enabled. Comparatively, AirPods Max 2 will tap out at 20 hours with ANC. A 20-hour battery life is simply not good enough from a company with so many resources at its disposal.

At this point, I genuinely think 20 hours is the lowest battery life I've seen on lifestyle headphones, Apple or not. I'm giving the win to the Sonys.

Winner: Sony WH-1000XM6

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: Verdict

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: Ratings scorecard

This was almost too close to call. Sony finished with an admirable score of 83, and Apple just eeked out the win with 84.

I think most people would be happy with either the XM6 or the AirPods Max 2. While I personally prefer the AirPods' expansive, immersive, and rich soundscape, the XM6 sound great, too. It just depends on what you want: do you place immersion or detail higher on your must-haves list?

I'll be the first person to admit that the AirPods Max 2 have ho-hum battery life and are still heavy, but the sound quality makes up for it (for me). Similarly, the XM6s don't have that same expansive, energetic soundscape, and the design falls flat. I think I would buy the AirPods Max 2. What do you think? Let me know in the comments.

Your PlayStation 5 could be getting a new home menu layout according to a beta tester. Being honest, it looks pretty good with the system apps and icons shifting from the bottom of the screen to the top in a move that is more reminiscent of the PS4 and PS3 menus.

An image of the new UI was shared on Reddit (spotted by Ben VideoTech on X) where the poster, who said they're enrolled in the PlayStation 5 beta program, discovered a new dashboard. The updated dashboard appears to move the Media, Games, PS Plus, and PSN Store icons to the top of the screen with the submenus

Nicely, it appears you can swap through the menus by pressing the L1 and R1 buttons on your DualSense.

Under Ben VideoTech's post an X user accused them of faking the image. However, another person shared a different photo of the new UI that looks much like the Reddit post. So, it appears this a real test.

Sony hasn't confrimed that this new home layout is in the works. However, based on these images the test looks fairly finished and I'm knocking on wood that it actually releases to the public soon.

Tom's Guide reached out to PlayStation for comment and will update if the company responds.

At this point in the PS5's lifecycle I've gotten used to the PS5 menu but if I had my druthers, I would prefer something similar to the PS4 dashboard. I loved the custom themes and wallpapers that you could install to personalize your console.

The PS5 has some themes like the 30th anniversary boot screen and the seasonal PlayStation shapes logos theme. Unfortunately, both of those get covered up by the splash screens for games and other menus and as such, the only way to really see them is in the the Welcome submenu.

If this update comes to fruition it will quickly become one that we'll all wonder why Sony didn't implement years earlier.

If you're a PS5 Beta member and you've got the new UI let us know and tell us what you think!

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This year's crop might be some of the best OLED TVs yet, but I’ve seen something from Sony that makes me think the days of OLED’s reign as the best TV technology could be truly numbered.

True RGB is the previously-rumored and now-confirmed name for Sony’s RGB Mini-LED backlight. It started back in early 2024 with Sony’s very first 22-bit Mini LED prototype that eventually made its way to the Bravia 9. Then in 2025, we saw a proof-of-concept RGB Mini-LED backlight. It was promising, even then, but it wasn't ready for mainstream TV buyers yet.

That changed last month when I finally got a proper, up-close look at Sony's imminent True RGB tech that I can not only talk about, but finally show you.

What is True RGB?

At a basic level, True RGB is Sony’s version of RGB Mini-LED. Each LED isn’t just one light source. It’s three separate red, green, and blue diodes that are individually controlled.

The result is simple in concept but hard to pull off. To execute more accurate colors at higher brightness level and better off-angle viewing, the backlight needs a brain that actually understands the complexity of the image it’s supporting and resources at its disposal.

Controlling three diodes per pixel is no joke. Most TVs are designed to handle one or two per pixel, maybe three with compromises. If your processing can’t keep up with a complicated scene, the TV may opt to play it safe and default back to traditional white color output (thus, rely wholly on color filters the way a traditional, less-expensive Mini-LED TV does.)

In fact, I’ve seen demos of several competitor RGB backlights that do exactly that. Sony says this is due to shortcomings in processing, especially when it comes to effectively managing “cross-talk” also known as color blooming.

The benefits of True RGB

Sony’s RGB demo felt different than any other one I’ve seen. The True RGB system essentially maps each diode to the content in real time. Strip away the LCD layer, and I could still make out the shapes and base colors of the scene. In an actual TV, this translated to accurate color reproduction, vibrant-but-realistic highlights and very minimal blooming.

It’s the kind of control that, until now, only OLED has been known for.

Although it's better at color reproduction than its predecessors, True RGB retains every bit of brightness. The system constantly adjusts each diode for efficiency, using heat mapping and advanced control algorithms to manage strain on the backlight.

In the spot tests I saw, the display hit higher peak brightness levels (approaching 4,000 nits) than competitor RGB Mini-LEDs, and it did so while using less energy.

Then there’s the fantastic off-angle viewing. True RGB retains color volume better than traditional LED when viewing a picture off-center. Again, it looked very OLED-rivaling to me.

What True RGB means for OLED

Although it matches some of OLED’s best qualities, True RGB isn’t about killing OLED, according to Sony. The company claims its true purpose is to address areas where OLED struggles, such as brightness and size scalability. We'd all love 97-inch or larger OLED TVs in our homes, but few of us can afford the luxury — and that's where True RGB could really shine.

The technology isn't quite at production level yet, but True RGB is headed to a consumer TV, and when it does, it won’t just be another incremental update that we've seen in years past.

I’ve been following this tech since it was just a promising prototype. Now that it has a name, and I’ve seen it in action, it’s clear that Sony wants True RGB to offer a compelling solution for folks who want top-tier brightness, immaculate color reproduction and larger screen sizes.

OLED will still be the best panel type on 2026 TVs, but come 2027 and beyond, it's very possible that Sony's new technology is the one that holds the crown.

More from Tom's Guide

• We just tested the LG C6 OLED — here's the good (and bad) news
• Samsung’s 115‑inch Micro RGB TV colors look incredible
• Micro RGB vs OLED TVs: What’s the difference?

On Apple’s 50th anniversary, I can’t help but ponder the paths not taken. In recent years, the company almost brought a large, wireless charging mat to market called AirPower. At one point in time, Apple was reportedly developing an electric vehicle.

But of all the Apple products that never were, none have piqued my interest as much as the oft-rumored, Apple-branded smart TV. There have been Apple smart TV rumors as recently as late 2024, and while the company doesn’t seem to be focused on developing its own TV at the moment, I’d wager that we haven’t heard the last of these rumors.

Look, I’m not an Apple aficionado. I use an iPhone and AirPods, sure, but I’m nothing close to an Apple acolyte. That said, the thought of Apple going toe-to-toe with Samsung, LG and Sony — makers of some of the best TVs on the market — excites me. The company’s way into the market could be by way of the industry’s best display technology: OLED.

OLEDs blend excellent performance with elegant design — just like most Apple products

LG, Samsung and Sony, three of the biggest OLED TV-makers in the game, have mastered the art of building high-performance OLED TVs whose designs look as premium as the picture.

The best OLED TVs deliver excellent picture quality and eye-catching design elements, in large part because the technology allows for it. Because OLED TVs don't rely on a backlight, they offer benefits you won't find on even the best LED TVs, like perfect black levels, pixel-level dimming and ultra-wide viewing angles.

And, because there's no backlight packed into the panel, plenty of OLED TVs are mind-bogglingly thin. Some even offer a uniform profile so that they can be wall-mounted without a gap between the panel and the wall.

It's not hard to imagine Apple — a brand known for its sleek, minimalistic design approach — tapping OLED technology for its first foray into the TV market. Apple already leverages OLED displays for many of its products (including select iPhones and iPads), and the design flexibility associated with the display technology is seemingly aligned with Apple's philosophy of engineering thin, modern-looking products.

The relative ease with which OLED displays can be polished down into thin forms with clean lines also lends itself well to Apple's penchant for eliminating every-day, design-related pain points. If anyone can build a TV with a built-in, cable-management system that I'll consider using, it's probably Apple.

Perhaps there would, in fact, be an option for it to hang on the wall with a gap-free wall-mount, just as there is for LG's G Series OLED. A rechargeable, click wheel-equipped remote control with backlit buttons certainly seems like something Apple would pair with a smart TV of its own making.

But perhaps the biggest benefit of blending Apple design philosophy with a high-end smart TV has nothing to do with hardware at all — it's all about the software potential.

A TV that harmonizes with your iPhone, iPad and AirPods

Apple isn't unimpeachable when it comes to how it designs its software (Liquid Glass, anyone?). But for the most part, people have come to appreciate the brand's design language and how easy it is to navigate the software.

For instance, I appreciate how quickly my AirPods connect to my iPhone. I love how few hoops I have to jump through to securely rent or buy something from Apple TV+.

An Apple-made TV would likely be built around the brand’s tvOS software, which is what powers the Apple TV streaming box. I find the tvOS user interface to be just as snappy and easy to navigate as iOS, and a TV with the software suite built right in would likely eliminate my desire for a dedicated streaming device.

Apple wouldn't be the first brand to let people to control their smart TV with a smartphone, but it could be the best to do it.

There could be iOS app integration, for instance. Pulling up an iMessage group chat on my TV screen while my friends and I watch a new episode of "Severance" wouldn't exactly be my cup of tea, but I could imagine others getting a kick out of it. Accepting a FaceTime call on your TV? Sure, why not?

Bluetooth-enabled TVs are nothing new, but what if you could instantly swap from your Apple TV's on-board speakers to your AirPods? I mean, this already exists on Apple TV streaming devices.

The Apple ecosystem is more streamlined than Samsung's or Google's. Yes, this has plenty to do with its walled-off nature, but in a world of bloated operating systems stuffed with half-baked AI features, Apple is better poised to cultivate a useful smart TV experience that integrates an entire household of gadgets.

How much would an Apple OLED TV cost?

Let's not kid ourselves: An Apple OLED TV wouldn't come cheap. For one thing, the brand isn't exactly known for budget-friendly, first-generation products. Then you've got to factor in the going rate for a high-end OLED TV.

Upon release, flagships OLEDs from Samsung, LG and Sony cost multiple thousands of dollars in sizes 65 inches and above. These prices steadily drop throughout the year, but they never fall far enough that one can truly call them "cheap."

That's just the reality of buying a high-end OLED TV in 2026. And, while there are a handful of entry-level and mid-range options that offer the OLED experience at lower costs, I can't imagine Apple finally throwing its hat into this ring for anything less than a high-end TV to compete with flagships from Samsung and LG.

Unfortunately, there hasn't been anything in the rumor mill of late to suggest that Apple is actually considering entering the TV market, nor do I have any insider information on the matter. An Apple-branded OLED TV remains a dream — a highly realistic, downright-tangible dream.

But what about you? Would you spend what it would likely take to get your hands on an Apple OLED TV?

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• LG C6 vs LG C5: Is the newest OLED TV worth it in 2026?
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During my four years working at the Apple Genius Bar, I witnessed more heartbreak than you'd expect in a tech store. Parents crying over lost baby photos, students who'd lost their entire thesis, small business owners facing financial ruin because their only copy of critical files had vanished.

World Backup Day exists for good reason — and if you think "it won't happen to me," you're setting yourself up for disaster. I learned the hard way that hard drives fail, phones get stolen, and ransomware doesn't discriminate. But all hope is not lost; protecting your digital life doesn't have to be complicated or expensive.

I've selected 9 excellent products on Amazon you should consider on World Backup Day. And remember, not all tech purchases have to be glamorous; Sometimes you need to build the fundamentals so that your more exciting products are set up for success, rather than failure. I've seen people lose their most precious photos; you never want to be that guy.

World Backup Day only comes once a year, but data loss can happen any day. If there's one thing I learned behind the Genius Bar, it's that the people who back up never think about it — and the people who don't back up think about it every day after they lose everything. Pick at least one product from this list, make that boring, but functional purchase, and give yourself the peace of mind you deserve.